Issue - meetings

To select appropriate items from the Cabinet (Finance) Sub Committee (Cabinet Finance Sub Committee reports enclosed for Scrutiny Members)

Meeting: 16/01/2019 - Cabinet Scrutiny Committee (Item 2)

Pre-Scrutiny

Minutes:

The Committee scrutinised the following matters:-

 

Cabinet Board Proposals

 

2.1     Joint Coroner Service

 

Members received details of the proposal to increase the financial contributions made to the Joint Coroner Service between Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council and the City and County of Swansea, resulting from the adoption of the JNC Framework for Coroner’s Pay, as detailed within the circulated report.

 

Members queried the comparisons with other authorities, as it was felt that the authorities detailed within the report did not reflect the same circumstances. Officers explained that the criteria was set by Joint Negotiation Committee established by the UK Government, requiring each Authority to set the coroners’ salary based on institutions that were within the area, such as prisons and hospitals and in line with the JNC Guidance set out in the report..

 

Members asked whether the wage structure would be varied across different authorities and Officers confirmed that the wage structure would be varied as each Local Authority was required to set their own coroner’s pay.

 

Members queried whether the requirement for an increase in pay was due to the original salary being set too low. Officers explained that originally there had been no national guidelines. This increase had arisen from the guidance provided by the JNC and UK Government

 

Members asked whether this would warrant all staff requiring job evaluations. Officers explained that this would not be the case as this would fall under a different policy.

 

Members questioned the inclusion of Neath Port Talbot Council in the discussions and were advised that the Authority’s Head of Legal Service had been involved in all key decisions regarding the coroner’s service.

 

Members queried the involvement of the Lord Chancellor should there be dispute. Officers confirmed that, in principal, if the Coroner was not happy with the proposals then the Lord Chancellor would be involved in any appeal who could set the level that each authority should pay.

 

Following scrutiny, the Committee was supportive of the proposals to be considered by Cabinet.