Recruitment Pack

Citizen Representative:

Birmingham Independent Remuneration Panel

October 2016

Recruitment Pack Index

A. Letter to ApplicantsB. About Birmingham City CouncilC. The Role of the Independent Remuneration PanelD. A Year in the Life of the Independent Remuneration PanelE. Application Form

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A. Letter to Applicants

Dear applicant

Application to serve as a Citizen Representative on the Independent Remuneration Panel

Thank you for expressing interest in becoming a member of the Independent Remuneration Panel.

In this Recruitment Pack you will find a description of the role and an application form.

When completing the application form, please write in black ink or type. Do not include a CV or other documentation.

It is very important you complete the application form accurately and as fully as possible. All information you provide will be treated in the strictest confidence.

The boxes give only an approximate indication of the length of answer that could be suitable. However, do not feel you must fill the space provided. If you need more space the boxes will expand as you type; if you are hand-writing your application, please continue on a separate sheet as necessary.

Please return this completed application form by 5 December 2016 either:

by email as an attachment in Word format to: ingrid.whyte@birmingham.gov.uk

or

by post to:

Ingrid WhyteBirmingham City Council Democratic ServicesThe Council House, Rm B89Victoria SquareBirmingham, B1 1BB

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Your application will then be considered and a shortlist of candidates for interview will be drawn up.

We will contact you if you have been shortlisted and invited for interview. Interviews will be held at the Council House (Victoria Square, B1 1BB) on either Wednesday 4 th January or Thursday 5th January 2017.

Once applicants have been selected a recommendation will be put forward to the full City Council who will then confirm the applicants as members of the Independent Remuneration Panel.

Yours sincerely

Kate Charlton

Acting City Solicitor

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B. Birmingham City Council

Birmingham

Birmingham is a city of growth where every child, citizen and place matters:

Birmingham has a large population which is growing faster than the UK average. And with the rise in population and household growth, the city will need an estimated 84,000 new homes between 2011 to 2031.

Birmingham is a very young city, with nearly half the population being 30 or under, but with a growing number of very elderly residents.

Birmingham is a super-diverse city, benefiting from many different nationalities, faiths, languages, ethnicities and cultures.

Birmingham is the sixth most deprived local authority in the country – just under 40% of Birmingham’s localities are in the most deprived 10% in the country.

There are above average levels of child poverty in Birmingham, compared with other local authorities. 30% of the city’s children live in a deprived household.

Birmingham is a major centre for employment, with around half a million jobs located in the city. However there are comparatively high levels of unemployment; worklessness and low level of skills remain a challenge.

Vision

The vision of Birmingham City Council is the creation and maintenance of a fair, prosperous and democratic city for all residents.

On top of this, we have made it our mission to ensure that we are constantly looking to improve the quality of life for Birmingham’s residents, especially when it comes to safeguarding the wellbeing of the most vulnerable amongst them.

This is achieved through collaborative working with the residents in order to fully understand their needs and mould the services accordingly.

We take a huge amount of pride in the achievements of the service in recent years and offer new recruits the opportunity to be part of an exciting future.

The commitment to the residents of Birmingham is something that is shared at all levels.

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Our Four Priorities

A great city to grow up inMake the best of our unique demography and create a safe and secure city for our children to learn and grow in.

A great city to live inProvide housing in a range of types and tenures, to meet the housing needs of all of the current and future citizens of the city.

A great city to succeed inBy 2031 Birmingham will be renowned as an enterprising, innovative and green city.

A great city to lead a healthy lifestyle and grow old inHelping people become healthier, especially relating to physical activity and mental wellbeing.

Creating the council of the future:

Our driving purpose is to make a positive difference every day to people’s lives. It underpins everything we do – through the setting of priorities, decision making and the delivery of services.

We are ambitious for Birmingham and we are committed to transforming the council – we call it ‘the council of the future’ – so that everyone who lives and works here can take full advantage of the many opportunities that will be created over the next few years. We will make this happen by working to a clear set of values and behaviours.

Our Values and Behaviours

1. We put citizens first2. We are true to our word3. We act courageously4. We achieve excellence

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C. The Role of the Independent Remuneration Panel

Overview

Birmingham City Council currently has 120 elected members (to reduce to 101 from May 2018). All members of the council (“Councillors”) receive a basic allowance. Some members are also paid a special responsibility allowance (SRA) to recognise significant additional responsibilities. SRAs are paid, for example, to members of the council’s Cabinet and the Chairs of Scrutiny Committees. Expenses for travelling, subsistence and dependants’ carers’ can be paid to those members who incur expenditure in undertaking particular duties.

In accordance with legal requirements, the City Council has an Independent Remuneration Panel which is made up of people independent from the council. The City Council may only pay allowances and expenses after first considering a report from its Independent Remuneration Panel. It is for the council to decide on the Members’ Allowances Scheme that is put in place, having regard to the panel’s recommendations.

The panel is well-established, having been formed by the City Council at its meeting on 3 July 2001. It has made a number of recommendations to the City Council over the years on basic allowance, special responsibility allowances and other expenses. In 2012/13 it carried out a “root and branch” review of the basic allowance. In the last year, panel members have also made reports to the New Frankley in Birmingham Parish Council and the Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council.

The panel has eight members, four of which are citizen representatives, two are “invited” members and two are co-opted, non-voting, members drawn from former Councillors of the City Council who are no longer members of the council.

The City Council is now seeking to appoint two citizen representative members for an initial four year term from February 2017.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

The principal duties and responsibilities of panel members are to:

1. Attend meetings of the Independent Remuneration Panel to consider information in connection with the Members’ Allowances Scheme.

2. To formulate a view and make recommendations to the council as to any appropriate changes to the Members’ Allowances Scheme, as laid down in the Local Authorities (Members’ Allowances) (England) Regulations 2003 and

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Section 7, Superannuation Act 1972, as set out in the Terms of Reference for the panel.

The panel must conduct a full review of the councillors’ remuneration scheme every four years; however in Birmingham the practice has been to consider the basic allowance each year.

The panel must also sit as the Independent Remuneration Panel for parish councils within Birmingham when required (currently Birmingham has two parish councils: New Frankley in Birmingham Parish Council and Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council).

Members of the panel are required to: Read and assimilate reports put forward to them by officers of the council in

regards to the Members’ Allowance Scheme Analyse issues and evidence, to establish what needs to be done and

commission work as appropriate Contribute, consider and reach conclusions about factual information to be put

forward to the council Consider the views of council members and to interview members if

necessary Follow statutory guidance on what allowances may be paid Attend meetings when required Work effectively with other members and fellow colleagues

How much work is required, and how the panel does that work, will be decided by the panel and the time commitment of panel members will vary throughout the term. However, it is anticipated that the panel will have to hold around five meetings a year to review the existing scheme and make recommendations to the Council and Parish Councils. More may be required when a full review is conducted. The next full review is due in 2018/19.

Independent Remuneration Panel meetings are held at Birmingham Council House.

Previous reports published by the panel can be found at https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/irp

Panel members are paid an Allowance of £1,080.00 per annum paid quarterly on or around the 28th of the month.

Personal Attributes

No specific qualifications are required. However, candidates need to demonstrate the ability to:

Read, absorb and evaluate complex information (including financial and statistical information); to be able to analyse information from multiple

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sources, make informed judgements and commission work (establish what needs to be done);

Take a balanced, open-minded and objective approach, for example, in evaluating councillor’s evidence of their role;

Communicate effectively and interact positively with other members of the panel, members and officers of the council to achieve positive outcomes;

Challenge constructively without becoming confrontational, using appropriate data, evidence and resources;

Demonstrate respect for others; value diversity; and respond sensitively to difference;

Demonstrate an awareness of the sensitive and confidential nature of the work and to demonstrate high standards of conduct and ethics.

An interest in the life of the city is also a requirement. And whilst it is desirable that candidates have knowledge of local government and the way it works, lack of familiarity with the functions of councils would not be a bar to appointment. Alternatively an interest in local government would help.

Persons are not eligible to serve on the panel if they:

1. Are an elected Councillor of any local authority 2. Are employed by the City Council or appointed to a Birmingham City Council

Committee 3. Are a senior employee (in a politically restricted post) of another local

authority 4. Are the holder of any position within a political party at local, regional or

national level 5. Are the subject of a bankruptcy restrictions order or interim order 6. Have been convicted in the last 5 years of an offence with a sentence of

imprisonment (whether suspended or not) for a period of not less than 3 months without the option of a fine

7. Are in debt to, or in dispute with, Birmingham City Council 8. Are a relative of an elected member of Birmingham City Council 9. Do not live in Birmingham or are not on the Electoral register.

The City Council will have the right to remove particular members from the panel before their term expires in special circumstances such as:

1. Becoming disqualified for any of the reasons detailed above;2. Persistent non-attendance; 3. Breach of confidentiality; 4. Conduct that brings the panel into disrepute and/or prejudices its impartiality

or its effective operation.

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For more information on what would be involved, please contact Emma WilliamsonHead of Scrutiny Services,Birmingham City Council0121 464 6870emma.williamson@birmingham.gov.uk

Ingrid WhyteDemocratic ServicesBirmingham City Council0121 303 3239Ingrid.whyte@birmingham.gov.uk

D. 2015-16: A Year (and a bit) in the Life of the Independent Remuneration Panel

In April 2015, the City Council accepted the Independent Remuneration Panel (“the panel”)’s recommendations following its “root and branch” review of the basic allowance.

In July 2015, panel members met to agree their work programme for the year, which would include a light touch review of the basic allowance, a review of some Special Responsibility Allowances (which had been deferred from the previous year’s report awaiting changes to the Constitution in May). The panel was also asked to add consideration of the allowance paid to the Chair of New Frankley in Birmingham Parish Council to their work programme.

In September 2015, panel members took evidence on District Committee Chair and Scrutiny Committee Chair roles, following changes to the Constitution in May 2015. The Leader and Deputy Leader, District Committee Chairs, Scrutiny Committee Chairs and officers attended to give evidence.

Following that meeting, a supplementary report on these Special Responsibility Allowances was prepared with recommendations for the City Council. This recommended small increases for both roles. The report was presented and accepted by City Council in October 2015.

In December 2015, the panel reviewed the Constitution as it relates to the panel, and planned the work for the remainder of the year.

In January 2016, panel members held their first meeting with the new Leader of Birmingham City Council and, at his request started consideration of the new Assistant Leader roles and a proposed Special Responsibility Allowance.

The panel also reviewed the basic allowance at that meeting, using the agreed comparator (the ASHE (Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings) place of work by local authority area (Birmingham) for a full time male). The panel’s view was that the basic allowance should remain unchanged.

Later that same month, the panel met again to take evidence on the allowance paid to the Chair of New Frankley in Birmingham Parish Council. A report and

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recommendations were prepared and submitted to the Parish Council in February 2016.

In March 2016, the panel met with officers to discuss further the new Assistant Leader roles, as the nature and scope of the role was firmed up.

In April 2016, the panel submitted its Annual Report to the City Council meeting, recommending no change on the basic allowance, existing Special Responsibility Allowances and other allowances.

In May 2016, the panel met again to discuss further the new Assistant Leader roles, which were then close to being in place. A Special Responsibility Allowance was recommended to, and agreed by, City Council later that month.

In total, 7 meetings were held between July 2015 and May 2016.

In 2016/17, the panel has already completed a report on allowances for Town Councillors of the Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council. Future items are likely to include a review of the Assistant Leaders’ SRA and consideration of the basic allowance. Looking further ahead, the reduction in the number of councillors from 120 to 101 in 2018 is likely to be a major consideration for the panel.

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E. Application for Appointment of Member of the Independent Remuneration Panel

Personal details

The information on this page will not form part of the shortlisting process and will be separated from your application form upon receipt.

Title (Mr/Mrs/Ms etc)

Name in full (please also give any other names by which you have been known)

Permanent home address

Daytime telephone number Evening telephone number

Mobile telephone number Email address

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Please say whether there is any special provision, equipment or assistance we can provide to help you attend an interview

References

Please give details of two people, not related to you, who have agreed to be contacted by us about your application. We intend to take up references for shortlisted candidates, prior to interview. If you do not wish us to contact your referees at that stage then please indicate this clearly below.

Name Name

Address Address

Tel No: Tel No:

Email: Email:

Position: Position:

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Advertisement

Where did you see this position advertised / hear about the position?

Please sign and date this form:

I confirm that:

I have read the background information and understand and accept the commitment needed to be an active member of the Independent Remuneration Panel.

The information that I have provided on this application form is correct.

I would fully respect the confidentiality of the information provided to me as a member of the panel.

I would observe any rules set by the panel and act in good faith in the interests of the panel.

Signed …………………………………………….. Date ……………

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1. Personal History

What is your current employment status and occupation, if any?

Please give details of employment, voluntary work, career breaks and any other work you do or have done in the local community.

Name and address of organisation (most recent first)

Dates position held (from/to)

Positions held and nature of responsibility

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Please give details of any involvement in local community activities not already mentioned above

Please list any academic, professional and/or vocational qualifications and any other recent training

Date obtained

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2. Criteria for Membership of Panel

Please answer EACH of the questions by placing a in the appropriate boxYes No

Are you a resident of the City and on current Electoral Register?

Are you an Elected Councillor of any local authority?

Are you related to a Birmingham City Council Councillor?

If yes, please provide name:

Are you employed by Birmingham City Council or appointed to a Birmingham City Council Committee?

Are you a senior employee (in a politically restricted post) of another local authority?

Do you hold any position within a political party at local, regional or national level?

Are you the subject of a bankruptcy restrictions order or interim order?

Have you been convicted within the last 5 years of an offence with a sentence of imprisonment (whether suspended or not) for a period of three months without the option of a fine?

Are you in debt to or in dispute with Birmingham City Council

Are you available to attend meetings (usually held in the evenings)?

Are you committed to undertaking the necessary background/preparation work?

3. Why do you want to be a member of the Independent Remuneration Panel?

Please explain why you wish to be a member on the Independent Remuneration Panel and explain how you meet the personal attributes for the role (please refer to section B “Personal Attributes”).

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4. Other information

Please provide details of any organisations (including political parties) you are, or have been a member of during the past 5 years.

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Equality monitoring questions

You do not have to answer these questions. However, by answering the questions you will help us to make sure that our recruitment is fair and accessible to everyone.

Gender

What is your gender? _________________________________

Age

Which age category are you in?

18-19 20-29 30-39 40-49

50-64 65-74 75-84 85 +

Disability

Under the terms of the Equality Act 2010 a person has a disability if he/she has a physical or mental impairment (includes sensory impairments) which has a substantial and long term adverse impact on his/her ability to carry out normal day to day activities. At least one of the following ‘normal day to day activities’ has to be substantially affected, namely, mobility, manual dexterity, physical coordination, continence; ability to lift, move, carry every day objects, speech, hearing or eyesight, memory or ability to learn, concentrate and understand, understanding the risk of physical danger.

Do you consider yourself to be a disabled person as defined above?

Yes No Prefer not to say

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Ethnicity

What is your ethnic group? Please choose one section from A – E, and then tick one box to best describe your ethnic group or background.

A White

English / Welsh / Scottish /

Northern Irish / British

Irish

Gypsy or Irish Traveller

Any other White background,

please write in

B Mixed / multiple ethnic groups

White and Black Caribbean

White and Black African

White and Asian

Any other Mixed / multiple ethnic background, please write in

C Asian / Asian British

Pakistani

Bangladeshi

Indian

Chinese

Any other Asian background, please write in

D Black / African / Caribbean / Black British

African

Caribbean

Any other Black / African / Caribbean background, please write in

E Other ethnic group

Arab

Any other ethnic group, please write in __________________________

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