Issue - meetings
Review of Member Timesheets
Meeting: 14/01/2014 - Standards Advisory Committee (Item 3)
3 Review of Member Timesheets PDF 58 KB
To consider and comment on the proposed amendments to the Members’ Timesheet proforma appended to the report and any further suggestions received in response to consultation.
Additional documents:
Minutes:
The Service Head Democratic Services presented the report. Members were invited to consider the proposed changes to the Members’ timesheet, as attached to the report (Appendix ‘B’), together with the current time sheet for comparison. The intention of the changes were to update the categories and terms in response to Member feedback.
The Committee noted the outcome of the consultation with the Political Groups and Independent Members on the suggested changes. (Tabled at the meeting). This feedback suggested that an additional category be added for Constituent’s Home Visits and suggested a move to a ‘tick box’ format. A example of how this could look was attached to the tabled information.
In response, some Councillors questioned the need for the amount of detail in the proposed timesheet (Appendix ‘B’) in the interest of public accountability. Councillors drew attention to the pressure on Members time in collecting the information. As a result, support was expressed for the simplified ‘tick box’ option and, where possible, for the form to be populated with automated statistics from the Council’s systems. It was suggested that this data could include statistics for Committee Meeting attendance (including the duration of meetings as well as numbers attended), Members training attendance and Members Enquiry information. Councillors would then simply complete the sections that Members alone could complete. It also should also be recognised that Councillors worked in different ways.
However, some Members expressed supported for the current level of detail in the timesheets (as revised in Appendix B) in the interests of transparency. As a result, some considered that the detailed categories should be maintained with the addition of the automated data, where possible.
A Councillor also questioned the value of the timesheet for comparison purposes (against other Councillors) given the lack of information on the Councillors circumstances, such as their employment status, that could affect the amount of time they could devote to duties.
A Councillor also asked about the level of public interest in the timesheets and how many people viewed the timesheets on line.
In conclusion, it was agreed that, for the time being, that the proposed revised timesheet (Appendix ‘B’) be introduced with the longer term aim of introducing an on-line system with automated information from the Council’s systems where possible. The Committee reaffirmed the importance of timesheets and their timely submission.
Resolved
1. That the proposed amendments to the Members’ Timesheet proforma as attached at Appendix ‘B’ be supported and introduced.
2. That in the slightly longer term, officers progress the introduction of online Member timesheets with the capacity to populate information (such as Meeting attendance, details of Members Enquires) where possible.
Action by:
John Williams, Service Head Democratic Services.