Councillor expenses 2022

The Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004 (Remuneration) Regulations 2007

The Local Government (Allowances and Expenses) (Scotland) Regulations 2007

Record of Payments of Remuneration, Allowances and Expenses made by Argyll and Bute Council for the period from 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022

Argyll and Bute Council is required to publish a record of the payments made to Councillors in terms of the above regulations. The Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004 (Remuneration) Regulations 2007 as amended make provisions for the payment of prescribed levels of remuneration by local authorities to Councillors. The Local Government (Allowances and Expenses) (Scotland) Regulations 2007 as amended make provision for the payment by local authorities to Councillors of certain types of allowance and reimbursement of expenditure incurred on approved duties of such Councillors.

Remuneration and Expenses

The tables attached set out the payments made for the period from 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022. The amounts shown are not the amounts actually received by Councillors. Firstly, the Remuneration payments shown are gross figures which are then subject to tax and national insurance deductions.  Secondly, other expense payments relate solely to the reimbursement of actual expenditure incurred by the councillor and are all backed up with receipts. Thirdly, the Council decided that it would be more effective to provide a broadband connection for each Councillor for council business related communication and telephone calls. No reimbursement has been made to Councillors in respect of such costs – these are all paid for directly by the Council on behalf of Councillors. These are included in the table this year reflecting revised guidance issued on such costs.

Training

During 2021/22 Argyll and Bute Council continued to run a comprehensive development programme for Councillors which included an Elected Member Seminar Programme and Committee Development Sessions. The Seminar Programme addressed the following topics:

p>In addition to the Seminar programme there were a number of Committee Development Sessions which focused on key areas within the strategic remit of the particular committee such as energy efficiency and Low Carbon Technology and also included engagement with external organisations and partners, e.g SEPA, Planning & Environmental Appeals Scottish Government.

Meetings of the Council, Committees and Members Seminars and Development Sessions were held on a virtual platform during the 21/22 financial year.  This has been in response to the Coronavirus Pandemic, which saw the Council take steps to reduce the risk for its Members, Staff and Citizens, while ensuring the Authority remained able to continue to exercise its essential functions.  Additional training was undertaken by Elected Members in relation to the technology, knowledge and skills necessary to support the transition to a virtual environment.  In addition the Council enhanced its virtual meeting environment to provide webcasting of strategic Committee meetings and also the capacity to enable those meetings to be conducted on a hybrid basis, enabling a mixed attendance of members being physically or virtually present.

Elected Members are encouraged to participate in the continuous development framework (CPD) for elected members in Scottish Local Government. The Framework has been developed in conjunction with elected members and councils across Scotland and includes a wide range of political skills and behaviours for elected members to consider including a personal development plan. Engagement in the framework is voluntary. It covers areas such as:

• how to deal with ward issues and to represent constituent needs effectively
• political awareness and understanding within the Council
• effective communication
• analysis and problem solving
• negotiation and lobbying

Elected Members who sit on external bodies also participate in a wide range of development activities organised directly by these organisations.

Douglas Hendry
Executive Director of Customer Services
1 June 2022