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Elected Members' Expense
Reimbursements and Allowances
Record No: R/16/7/10215
Report by Sheree Marrah, Finance Manager,
regarding Elected Members’ Expense Reimbursements and allowances, was
tabled.
Mrs Marrah advised the purpose of the report
is to inform Community Boards and Community Development Area Subcommittees of
the recent changes to Council’s Elected Members’ Remuneration and
Reimbursements Policy and the associated impact on them.
Members noted the revised policy
amendments were adopted by Council on 8 June 2016 and are effective from 1
July 2016. The subcommittee
was advised that the Remuneration Authority (RA) sets the framework for the
remuneration and reimbursement of local government elected members, namely
the Mayor, Councillors and Community Board members.
1
Mrs Marrah informed Council recently reviewed its Elected
Members’ Remuneration and Reimbursements Policy as a result of some
minor changes required by the RA to mileage and travel time allowances.
2
3
Mrs Marrah explained Council staff recommended
a number of additional amendments to the policy to allow reimbursement of
expenses and the payment of allowances to Community Board members and Council
Subcommittee members.
4
5
The subcommittee noted the revised policy
includes the provision of mileage and travel time allowances as well as
expenditure reimbursements for Community Board and Subcommittee members, in
line with Councillors.
6
Mrs Marrah advised that the specific provisions relevant to Community Boards and Council
Subcommittees incorporated into the revised policy are as follows:
7
·
Mileage allowance, can be claimed in line with Councillors, where
travel exceeds 30 kilometres within a day.
8
·
The mileage allowance will be
paid to elected members at a rate of 74 cents per kilometre
(consistent with the IRD rates) for the first 5,000 kilometres.
·
The rate for travel in
excess of 5,000 kilometres will remain at 37 cents per kilometre. The
30 kilometre round trip threshold (ie, 15 kilometres each way) applies to
visits to Council offices (or other regular meeting venues deemed to be a
Council office for the purpose of this policy). For other Council
requested travel by elected members, no threshold will apply.
·
Travel time
allowance, can be claimed
in line with Councillors, at a rate of $37.50 per hour, where travel time exceeds 1 hour within a day.
·
The policy states that where Community Board
or Subcommittee meetings are held at a regular venue other than a Council
office, this location will be deemed to be a Council office for the purposes of mileage and travel
time allowances.
·
Reimbursement for
costs can be claimed for
courses, seminars and training associated with the role of an elected
member. Associated travel and accommodation costs may also be
reimbursed if in accordance with the policy.
9
In regard to the funding of any such claims
the Subcommittee was informed although the revised change in mileage and
travel time allowances for Community Board and Council Subcommittee members
has not specifically been budgeted for in 2016/2017.
10
11
Mrs Marrah advised it is anticipated that this
will not be a significant cost to the communities as the majority of elected
members live within 15 kilometres of their nearest Council office and travel
less than one hour to attend meetings.
12
The subcommittee noted payment of
allowances and reimbursements will be funded from local operating budgets of
the relevant Community Board or Subcommittee.
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