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Chapter 1 - Introduction and context of our review
1.1 The Scottish Local Authorities Remuneration Committee ( SLARC) was established under the provisions of the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004.
1.2 The Committee was appointed following an open competition which followed public appointment principles. Membership of the Committee is:
Ian Livingstone, CBE (Chairman)
Marlene Anderson
Dan Brown
Kate Dunlop
Declan Hall
Mark Irvine
Jack Wilson
Gary Cox, Secretary to the Committee
1.3 Biographical notes for each Committee member are given at Annex D.
1.4 The Committee's remit and requirements were set by the Minister for Finance and Public Service Reform. Requirements under section 13(2)(b) of the Act were issued to the Committee on
8 February 2005, as follows:
- 1. The Scottish Ministers, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 13(2)(b) of the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004 ("the Act"), and of all other powers enabling them in that behalf, hereby require the Scottish Local Authorities Remuneration Committee ("the Committee") to review, and prepare and submit to the Scottish Ministers advice in relation to the matters specified in paragraphs 2 and 3.
Matters which shall be subject to advice by the Committee - 2. The matters specified are the payment by local authorities of remuneration (including pensions) and allowances to and reimbursement of expenses incurred by members of local authorities.
- 3. The matters specified are the payment of severance payments (within the meaning of section 12 of the Act) in relation to members of local authorities.
Criteria by reference to which the Committee is to prepare advice
- 4. In reviewing, preparing and submitting to the Scottish Ministers advice in relation to the matters specified in paragraph 2, the Committee shall do so by reference to the criteria specified in paragraphs 6 to 13 (but not exclusively).
- 5. In reviewing, preparing and submitting to the Scottish Ministers advice in relation to the matters specified in paragraph 3, the Committee shall do so by reference to the criteria specified in paragraphs 7, 12 and 13 (but not exclusively).
Cost criteria
- 6. The effect of the advice, assuming that it has been implemented, upon the total cost incurred by local authorities in respect of the payment of remuneration (including pensions), allowances, and reimbursement of expenses incurred by, members of local authorities.
Public opinion criteria
- 7. The Committee shall use reasonable endeavours to secure that its advice, so far as practicable, shall be acceptable to the local government electorate in Scotland, and having regard to their responses to any consultation or publicity by the Committee of the proposals.
Role weighting criteria
- 8. The Committee shall take account, in providing its advice, of the results of a role weighting evaluation (as such an evaluation is defined in paragraph 10) instructed by or on behalf of the Committee (but not actually carried out by the Committee or any member of it), and which shall be instructed independently of local authorities and their members in accordance with the requirements of paragraph 11.
- 9. The Committee shall proceed on the assumption that in any particular local authority, a sizeable majority of the members represent the local authority such that the total time spent on their responsibilities as members is supplemental to the time spent on their other types of responsibilities, that are not connected with local authorities.
- 10. A role weighting evaluation for these purposes shall assess the time commitment required by the members of local authorities in accordance with their particular responsibilities or offices, and shall make comparisons with any other professions or occupations that the person carrying out the evaluation considers may be comparable with the responsibilities of a member of a local authority.
- 11. The role weighting evaluation shall be undertaken without influence from any local authorities or their members or from any other organisation or person that is representative of local authorities or of their members.
Population size criteria
- 12. The Committee shall not exclusively have regard to the population size of any local authority.
The attractiveness of severance payments in relation to remuneration
- 13. In providing its advice on proposed levels of severance payments, the Committee shall have regard to the attractiveness of such levels to members of local authorities, when compared with the proposed levels of remuneration, allowances and reimbursement of expenses that it advises are appropriate.
Sources of evidence
1.5 We considered it important to seek views from those who will be directly affected by our recommendations. We therefore held meetings at an early stage with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives, the National Association of Councillors and with representatives of nine councils. This allowed us to gather a wide range of views and opinions that helped us to shape and develop our thinking.
Research commissioned
1.6 We commissioned three pieces of research work to assist us in our work. The MORI Social Policy Monitor allowed us to ask questions on the public's attitude to councillors' remuneration. The Survey of Scottish Councillors' Workload and Analysis of Councillors' Weight of Responsibilities carried out by Hexagon Research and Consulting allowed councillors and others opportunities to respond to questions about their role as a councillor, the weight of responsibilities held, and the time commitment involved.
Acknowledgements
1.7 We are grateful to the representatives of the following councils and organisations who took time to engage with the Committee and give their views:
Aberdeenshire Council
Convention of Scottish Local Authorities
City of Edinburgh Council
Falkirk Council
Glasgow City Council
The Highland Council
Midlothian Council
National Association of Councillors
North Lanarkshire Council
Orkney Islands Council
Scottish Borders Council
Society of Local Authority Chief Executives
The Secretaries to the Strathclyde Police and Strathclyde Fire Joint Boards
1.8 We are also grateful to those who took part in the research projects commissioned by the Committee, and to Paolo Vestri and his team at Hexagon Research and Consulting for carrying them out within a challenging timetable.
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