An apology for absence was received from Councillor P Walker.

There were no substitute members appointed.

To receive any declarations of interest from Members in respect of business to be transacted on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest made by Members.

To confirm the attached Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 5 December 2016.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 5 December 2016 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To consider the attached report of the Director of Governance.

The Head of Legal Services introduced the report on the Local Government Pension Scheme 2014.

The Local Government Pension Scheme Regulations 2014 required that the policy be reviewed annually and as a result members were being asked to approve a revised Pension Discretion Policy Statement incorporating four minor changes to reflect organisational changes and provide clarity. In addition to this a further change was required to reflect the correct adjudicator under Regulation 74 of the Local Government Pension Scheme Regulations 2013. The previous policy had incorrectly stated that the Chief Executive was the adjudicator rather than Mr Yunus Garja, who had been appointed by Kent County Council for that purpose.

Members raised concerns that a further change in the named adjudicator could require the policy to be revised and it was suggested that as the appointment of the adjudicator was made by Kent County Council there would be merit in providing the Director of Governance with the necessary authority to amend the name of the adjudicator in the document in the event that the position holder changed.

RESOLVED: (a)   That the revised Pension Discretion Policy Statement as set out at Appendix 1 be approved.

                        (b) That Mr Yunus Garja be appointed as the adjudicator for the purposes of Regulation 74 of the Local Government Pension Scheme Regulations 2013 until notified otherwise by Kent County Council.

                        (c) That the Director of Governance be authorised to make any necessary minor changes to the Pensions Discretion Policy Statement including changing the name of the adjudicator when notified of a change by Kent County Council.

RESOLVED:     That, under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the remainder of the business on the grounds that the items to be considered involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 4 of Part I of Schedule 12A of the Act.

To consider the attached report of the Head of Paid Service.

The Director of Governance presented the report on the Pay Award 2017.

Members were advised that the Trade Unions had been consulted as part of the process and had accepted the proposed pay award. In addition, representatives from the Trade Unions had been invited to the meeting although none were present.

In respect of the increase for car and fuel allowances, Members were advised that these had remained unchanged since 2009 and should have been increased in line with the pay award.

It was also confirmed that the Council still met the requirements of the National Living Wage.

RESOLVED: (a)     That a pay award of 1% or £300 whichever is the higher on the base salary of all staff from 1 April 2017 be approved.

                        (b)     That the car and fuel allowances for affected staff be increased by 6.7% from 1 April 2017 and thereafter be increased in line with the salary pay award for base pay.