Voluntary - Independent Remuneration Panel - Members Allowances

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Everyone is unique. Everyone has value. Everyone helps to make Kent Fire and Rescue Service a great place to work. We are one team. Together with our customers we are creating a safer future for Kent and Medway.

Being the Independent Remuneration Panel

The Kent & Medway Fire & Rescue Authority are seeking to appoint an Independent Remuneration Panel. 

The Kent and Medway Fire and Rescue Authority (KMFRA or the Authority) is the governing body of Kent Fire and Rescue Service and responsible for the provision of the service. 

KMFRA consists of 25 local councillors (21 from Kent County Council and four from Medway Council). It also includes the Kent Police Crime Commissioner and an Independent Person. All Councillors receive an allowance, with some receiving a Special Responsibility Allowance based on additional roles and responsibilities in accordance with the Authority’s Members’ Allowances Scheme.

Under The Local Authorities (Members’ Allowances) (England) Regulations 2003, KMFRA require an Independent Remuneration Panel (IRP) to provide advice on the nature and level of allowances to be paid to those who are eligible. The Authority must have regard to this advice when reviewing or amending its allowances scheme.

The role of the IRP is to make recommendations to the Authority on the level of allowances to be paid. To do this the Panel must assess the ‘value’ of the respective roles within the Authority taking account of changes it considers appropriate and relevant, without any preconceived result or directed outcome. The IRP also considers benchmarking or specialist data as appropriate.

The Authority is required to publicise the main recommendations of the IRP to ensure transparency and openness.

Following consideration of the Panel’s recommendations, the Authority determines its Scheme of Allowances which then forms part of the Authority’s Constitution. Any approved scheme is required to be advertised in accordance with the statutory requirements. 

What you’ll do

• Ideally, the Panel should comprise representatives of the public, private and third sectors. We are looking for members of the public who can make informed, impartial contributions to panel meetings and the recommendations to the Authority. 
• You should have some understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the Authority and its members. Ideally, you will also have a general awareness of remuneration levels in the public and private sectors. 
• This voluntary role will normally entail attending 1-3 meetings per year (often remote meetings using Teams) together with some email contact to finalise reports.  
• Panel members are appointed for four years. 

What you’ll bring

 The following skills and experience would be an advantage:

• Experience of similar work such as committee or other advisory activities.
• Ability to make sound judgements based on the information and analysis available in a fair, independent and objective way.
• Experience of assessing and reporting information in a structured and logical way to meet the needs and understanding of the intended audience.
• A positive commitment to public services.
• Good analytical, interpersonal and communication skills.

Information for applicants 

Legislation states the following eligibility criteria:

• Members of the independent remuneration panel cannot be members of Kent & Medway Fire & Rescue Authority or any of its committees.
• Members must not be members of either of the Constituent Authorities.
• They must not be disqualified from being or becoming a member of Kent & Medway Fire & Rescue Authority. Anyone disqualified from being an elected member of a local authority is also disqualified from being a member of an independent panel.
• Members must not a relative or close friend of a Member of Kent & Medway Fire & Rescue Authority.

How to apply

Please complete an online application and CV by midnight on 15^th June.

Inclusion is at the heart of everything we do. We know that great minds don’t think alike, so we rely on diverse thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and backgrounds to create the best working environment that we can possibly offer.

Inclusion is at the heart of everything we do. We know that great minds don’t think alike, so we rely on diverse thoughts, feelings, beliefs and backgrounds to create the best working environment that we can possibly offer.

Kent Fire and Rescue Service, its employees and volunteers, are committed to safeguarding, protecting and supporting children, young people and adults at risk. As part of our safer recruitment process, we will undertake pre-employment checks to verify your suitability for the role. These checks will include your references and a standard or enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Enhanced DBS check with barred lists are carried out for roles with direct and unsupervised access to children, young people and adults at risk. Risk assessments will be undertaken on any disclosures identified as part of the pre-employment checks.

As a Public Sector organisation with added responsibilities under the Equality Act, 2010 the candidate must demonstrate an understanding of what is meant by Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and how this fits in with their everyday work.