Vacancy -- Chair - Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales

Vacancy details

Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales
Meetings are virtual and held across Wales
£337 per day. The Chair is also entitled to travel and other reasonable expenses within reasonable limits.
2
month

Function of body

The Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales (the Panel) is independent of Welsh Government and local government.  It was established on a permanent basis initially to determine the range and levels of allowances payable by county and county borough councils to their councilors and co-opted members with voting rights.

The Local Government (Wales) Measure 2011 extended the remit and gave the Panel its current statutory status. Its remit now also includes town and community councils, national park authorities and fire and rescue authorities. The Panel’s remit was then further extended in 2015, and the Panel may now also make recommendations in respect of any proposal to change the salary of the chief executive of a county or county borough council as and when required. 

Role description

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of setting the range and level of payments for:

  • Members of county and county borough councils
  • Members of town and community councils
  • Members of national park authorities
  • Members of fire and rescue authorities

Role and responsibilities

The Panel is required to produce an annual report, which will prescribe the payments and allowances for councillors and members of the organisations listed above. The Panel must produce an Annual Report and may produce Supplementary Reports at any time that it considers necessary. In preparing its reports the Panel is required to take into account the likely financial impact of its decisions on the authority or authorities in question. Panel members also consider any proposed changes to the salary of the chief executive of county and county borough councils, as and when required.


Chairs role description

  • To set the strategic direction in respect of the remuneration of local councillors and members of the NPA and the FRA. To ensure the work of the Panel is set within this overall strategy.
  • Leadership skills – Including chairing meetings and setting standards for the effective operation of the Panel and the timely completion of reports.
  • Develop a strategic approach to engagement with individuals and representatives of the bodies for which the Panel has responsibility for determining remuneration levels. 
  • Ensuring the public is aware of the role of the Panel and how they can contribute to work of the Panel.
  • Ensure the work of the Panel is transparent and open to public scrutiny and debate.
  • Attendance at Panel meetings and other stake holder meetings with senior officials             
  • Ensuring value for money approach to the Financial and resource management of Panel resources. 
  • Effective communication skills   
  • Ability to challenge constructively both within the Panel   externally with stakeholders                     
  • Identification of a research programme to support the development of determinations of the Panel. To consider the outcome of the research, analyse the results and communicate how that evidence supports the Panels decisions.         
  • Contribution to policy development – including the preparation of discussion papers / report writing. 
  • Understanding and commitment to equality issues and challenging discriminatory practices.   

Welsh language skills

The Welsh Government acknowledges the importance of developing and growing bilingual capabilities in public appointments in Wales, and welcomes applications from candidates who demonstrate their capability to work in both English and Welsh.  The following list of language requirements represents an objective assessment by the recruiting body of the Welsh language skills required to undertake the duties of this particular post.
Desirable
Can read some basic words and phrases with understanding
Can write basic messages on everyday topics
Can understand parts of a basic conversation
Can hold a basic conversation in Welsh

Person specification

Essential Criteria

All Candidates should show evidence of:

  • Ensure the Panel adheres to the Nolan seven principles of public life, demonstrates commitment to equality issues and challenging discriminatory practices and working in a politically neutral way in discharging its responsibilities.
  • Providing vision and strategic leadership including a proven record of delivering against objectives within appropriate timescales
  • Strong interpersonal skills  including the ability to negotiate, persuade and influence
  • Ability to build good working relationships with colleagues, stakeholders and others including effective management of meetings and other key events;
  • Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing to individuals ranging from members of the public to senior leaders
  • Ability to identify and manage a research programme, consider and analyse  evidence from a wide range of sources and reach decisions based upon that evidence  which are both fair, reasonable and appropriate
  • An understanding of the importance of local democracy and public service.

To be considered, you must be able to demonstrate that you have the qualities, skills and experience to meet all the essential criteria for appointment.


Desirable criteria for the Chair role

  • Ability to understand and speak Welsh

Interview dates

10 January 2022
15 January 2022

Closing date

05/01/2022, 16:00

Additional information

For further information regarding the selection process, please contact:

Public Appointments Team

Public Bodies Unit

Email: publicappointments@gov.wales

 

For further information regarding the role of the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales and the role of Chair please contact Leighton Jones, Local Government Democracy Division:

Tel: 0300 025 3038

Email: Leighton.jones@gov.wales

 

If you need any further assistance in applying for this role, please contact publicappointments@gov.wales.

For further information about Public Appointments in Wales, please visit Public Appointments

How to apply

To apply for this role, click on the ‘Apply’ button below. The first time you apply for a post, you will need to complete a registration form for the Welsh Government’s online application system.  You will only need to register once, and you will be able to keep yourself updated on the progress of your application, and any other applications you make, via your registered account.

Once you’ve registered, you’ll be able to access the application form.  To apply you will need to submit two supporting documents. The first, a document outlining how your knowledge, skills and experiences meet the criteria for the role as outlined in the information for candidates.  This document should be no more than 2 sides of A4.  Your application may be rejected if you exceed this limit.  The second document is a full, up to date CV.  The two documents should be uploaded to the ‘Reasons for applying’ section of the online application form.

In your application, you will also be asked to provide details of any activities which have helped you to develop skills that would be useful in a public appointment role, and list the organisations for which you undertook these activities.  We also need to know about any political activity that you’ve undertaken over the last 5 years. 

It is recommended that you register for an account and access the application form as soon as possible so that you see how the application form is structured, before starting to prepare your evidence.  You don’t have to complete the application form all in one go.  You can save your responses, and log in and out as required, until you’re ready to submit – just follow the guidance in the application form.

If you’d like to apply for this opportunity in Welsh, please use the ‘Newid Iaith / Change Language’ link at the top of this page, to take you to the Welsh version of this advert, from which you can apply in Welsh.

If you need any further assistance in applying for this role, please contact the Welsh Government’s Public Appointments Team on  PublicAppointments@gov.wales.

For further information about Public Appointments in Wales, please visit www.gov.wales/publicappointments

Commissioner for Public Appointments logo

This vacancy is closed to applications.