Agenda item

To accept the report by the Democracy and Language Manager.

To accept the report.

RESOLVED:

To accept the report.

The report was submitted, which provided the latest information to Members on financial remuneration for 2024/25. It was explained that the Democracy and Language Services Manager and the Democracy Team had received enquiries recently on financial remuneration and there was concern that information was not conveyed or that Members' attention needed to be drawn to a few matters. The current basic financial remuneration (salary) was highlighted for the Members, which was £18,666 per year. It was explained that this was an increase of just over £1,000 on the 2023/24 financial remuneration. It was added that Members should contact their Political Group Assistants for questions regarding their P60.

It was noted that this information had already been communicated through the Members' Intranet through the weekly Members' Bulletin. To conclude, it was noted that the intention of the report was to raise awareness of the financial situation and the support available for Members.

During the discussion the following observations were made:

-        It was expressed that the phone numbers of Committee Chairs should be available e.g. if a member of the public or another Councillor had a question for the Chair of the Care Scrutiny Committee. There was concern that Chairs were not available to respond to calls and it was believed that they should be available.

-        It was added that it was difficult to contact Cyngor Gwynedd Members who had been appointed to External Bodies or Boards. It was highlighted that this was frustrating when people wanted information about a specific matter.

-        A standpoint was expressed that Members should not be forced to share their phone numbers, noting that many would be less likely to release them recently because of safety matters and that many tended to use e-mails as a convenient way of contacting.

-        An enquiry was made regarding the payment of electric vehicle costs, which cost less to run than traditional fuel vehicles but receive the same travel costs rate as traditional cars.

In response to the observations:

-        It was reiterated that Councillors' e-mail addresses were included on the Council's website but that it was not a requirement to publish their address or phone numbers. It was highlighted that the Democracy Services Officers' phone numbers were on Committees’ Forward Programmes and that those officers would pass any relevant enquiry on to the Committee Chairs.

-        It was reported that the majority of External Bodies did not pay the Members and that some meetings were closed due to commercial sensitivity and that Members must respect these rules as long as they were reasonable rules. It was noted that the majority of External Bodies matters were open.

-        It was confirmed that there were no changes to the travel costs payments and that electric cars rates were the same as diesel/petrol cars. It was explained that this was mainly due to the acknowledgement that the maintenance costs of electric cars tended to be higher although the running costs were lower. It was acknowledged that national arrangements were currently being followed and there may be changes in the future when the technology became more popular.