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2005 Report and Determination
REPORT
and
DETERMINATIONS
Of
THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT REMUNERATION
TRIBUNAL
Under
SECTIONS 239 AND 241
of the
LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1993
13 April 2005
REPORT:
Pursuant to Section 241 of the Local Government Act 1993 (the Act) the Local Government Remuneration Tribunal hereby determines the categories for councils, county councils and mayoral officers and the maximum and minimum amount of fees to be paid during the period 1 July 2005 to 30 June 2006 to mayors and councillors of councils as well as chairpersons and members of county councils.
In undertaking the 2005 review the Tribunal sought submissions from councils and the Local Government and Shires Associations on both the categories of councils and the minimum and maximum level of fees payable to councillors and mayors. This year in particular, the Tribunal indicated its intention to undertake a review of the categories of councils which were initially determined in 1995.
The Minister for Local Government, the Hon Tony Kelly MLC, has advised the Tribunal that the Department of Local Government will undertake a review of the expenses policies adopted by councils with a view to guidelines being developed. Councils are currently required, pursuant to section 252 of the Act, to adopt a policy for the payment of expenses to mayors, deputy mayors and other councillors.
As the issues surrounding the payment of fees and expenses are related, the Minister has requested that the Tribunal defer its review of categories until such time as the Department has completed its review. One option being considered is the central regulation of expenses and whether different categories of councils should have variable expense structures.
Underpinning the category structure developed by the Tribunal is the principle that like sized councils receive comparable fee levels to perform the roles and responsibilities for which they were elected.
Expenses policies are, under the legislation, a matter for each council. There is no suggestion that this should change. What is at issue, however, is that under the current arrangements expenses policies adopted by councils within the same category may differ significantly in quantum and scope.
The proposed review provides the opportunity for the Tribunal to have regard to the impact, if any, of councils' expense policies on the current category and fee structures.
On this basis, and after consultation with the Assessors, the Tribunal has agreed to defer making any changes to the categories of councils for 2005/2006. In addition, the Tribunal has deferred its decision to visit and meet with councils until the review is complete, which is expected to be later this year. The Tribunal would like to thank those councils and the Associations who provided information in regard to the review of categories. The Tribunal will continue its investigations with a view to finalising this matter as part of the 2006/2007 annual review process. Submissions already received will be considered again at that time.
In the light of the review of the expenses policy the Tribunal has considered the quantum of fees for 2005/2006. It has been determined to defer any changes to the fee structure until the results of the Government's inquiry are available.
Local Government Remuneration Tribunal(The Honourable Charles L Cullen QC)
Dated: 13 April 2005
DETERMINATION OF CATEGORIES OF COUNCILS AND COUNTY COUNCILS FOR 2005/2006
| Category S1 (1 Council) | Sydney |
| Category S2 (3 Councils) | Newcastle |
| Parramatta | |
| Wollongong | |
| Category S3 | County Councils |
| Category S4 | County Councils |
| Category 1A (2 Councils) | |
| Blacktown | |
| Penrith |
| Category 1. (16 Councils) |
| Bankstown | Liverpool |
| Baulkham Hills | North Sydney |
| Campbelltown | Randwick |
| Fairfield | Ryde |
| Gosford | Sutherland |
| Hornsby | Warringah |
| Hurstville | Willoughby |
| Lake Macquarie | Wyong |
Category 2. (21 Councils)
| Ashfield | Lane Cove |
| Auburn | Leichhardt |
| Botany | Manly |
| Burwood | Marrickville |
| Camden | Mosman |
| Canada Bay | Pittwater |
| Canterbury | Rockdale |
| Holroyd | Strathfield |
| Hunters Hill | Waverley |
| Kogarah | Woollahra |
| Ku ring Gai |
Category 3. (32 Councils)
| Albury City | Greater Taree |
| Armidale Dumaresq | Griffith |
| Ballina | Hastings |
| Bathurst Regional | Hawkesbury |
| Bega Valley | Kempsey |
| Blue Mountains | Lismore |
| Broken Hill | Maitland |
| Byron | Orange |
| Cessnock | Pt Stephens |
| Clarence Valley | Shellharbour |
| Coffs Harbour | Shoalhaven |
| Dubbo | Tamworth Regional |
| Eurobodalla | Tweed Heads |
| Gt Lakes | Wagga Wagga |
| Goulburn Mulwaree | Wingecarribee |
| Queanbeyan | Wollondilly |
Category 4. (33 Councils)
| Bellingen | Moree Plains |
| Cabonne | Murray |
| City of Lithgow | Muswellbrook |
| Cobar | Nambucca |
| Cooma-Monaro | Narrabri |
| Cootamundra | Narrandera |
| Cowra | Parkes |
| Deniliquin | Richmond Valley |
| Forbes | Singleton |
| Palerang | Snowy River |
| Gilgandra | Tumut |
| Glen Innes Severn | Walgett |
| Gunnedah | Wellington |
| Inverell | Wentworth |
| Kiama | Yass Valley |
| Leeton | Young |
| Mid-Western Regional |
Category 5. (44 Councils)
| Balranald | Dungog | Narromine |
| Berrigen | Gloucester | Oberon |
| Bland | Greater Hume | Temora |
| Blayney | Gundagai | Tenterfield |
| Bogan | Guyra | Tumbarumba |
| Bombala | Gwydir | Upper Hunter |
| Boorowa | Harden | Upper Lachlan |
| Bourke | Hay | Uralla |
| Brewarrina | Jerilderie | Urana |
| Carrathool | Junee | Wakool |
| Central Darling | Kyogle | Walcha |
| Conargo | Lachlan | Warren |
| Coolamon | Liverpool Plains | Warrumbungle |
| Coonamble | Lockhart | Weddin |
| Corowa | Murrumbidgee |
| TOTAL GENERAL PURPOSE COUNCILS | 152 |
Category S3 (10 Councils)
| Castlereagh - Macquarie | New England Weeds |
| Central Murray | Richmond River |
| Far North Coast | Southern Slopes |
| Hawkesbury River | Upper Hunter |
| Mid Western | Upper Macquarie |
Category S4 (6 Councils)
| Central Tablelands | MidCoast |
| Cudgegong | Riverina Water |
| Goldenfields Water | Rous |
| TOTAL COUNTY COUNCILS | 16 |
DETERMINATION OF ANNUAL REMUNERATION FEES FOR COUNCILLORS AND MAYORS
Pursuant to s.241 of the Local Government Act 1993, the annual fees to be paid in each of the categories determined under s.234 to Councillors, Mayors, members and chairpersons of County Councils during the period 1 July 2005 to 30 June 2006 are determined as follows:
|
Councillor/Member Annual Fee |
Mayor/Chairperson Additional Fee* | |||
|
Minimum |
Maximum |
Minimum |
Maximum | |
|
Category 5 |
5,875 |
6,460 |
6,240 |
10,615 |
|
Category 4 |
5,875 |
7,750 |
6,240 |
16,920 |
|
Category 3 |
5,875 |
12,925 |
12,490 |
28,215 |
|
Category 2 |
5,875 |
12,925 |
12,490 |
28,215 |
|
Category 1 |
8,810 |
16,450 |
18,730 |
43,705 |
|
Category 1A |
11,745 |
19,385 |
24,970 |
56,505 |
|
S4 |
1,175 |
6,460 |
2,500 |
10,615 |
|
S3 |
1,175 |
3,875 |
2,500 |
7,055 |
|
S2 |
11,745 |
19,385 |
24,970 |
56,505 |
|
S1 |
17,625 |
25,850 |
107,840 |
141,900 |
*This fee must be paid in addition to the fee paid to the Mayor/Chairperson as a Councillor/Member (s.249(2)).
Local Government Remuneration Tribunal
(The Honourable Charles L Cullen Q.C.)
Dated: 13 April 2005