Official Information Request - Elected Member Remuneration

Sent: Thursday, 20 September 2018 5:02 p.m.

Subject: TRIM: Official information request - elected member remuneration

I refer to your online information request regarding the above and provide the following responses as per your questions:

1. Have any elected members requested that the recent increase to their salary be returned to the council's consolidated fund by request to the CEO (or however else such a request would be made)? No

2. If any elected members have had their increase returned, please advise which members these are. N/A

3. If this process, as reported in media (https://www.nzherald.co.nz/rotorua-daily-post/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503438&objectid=12114784) is in fact not correct, is there any way in which an elected member could refuse a salary increase, or seek to have their salary reduced? If so, please advise how they would do this. No.

Remuneration for local authority councillors is covered by the Local Government Act 2002, clause 6 of Schedule 7, as follows:

• the Remuneration Authority to set the remuneration, allowances and expenses of mayors, and other elected members on local authorities, community boards and Auckland Council local boards
• to set scales of salaries, allowances, ranges of remuneration, different forms of remuneration; prescribe rules for the application of those scales, ranges or different forms of remuneration; differentiate between individuals occupying equivalent positions in different, or in the same, local authorities or community boards; set pay arrangements that apply to individuals or groups occupying equivalent positions

Councillors cannot refuse a pay rise as provided by the Remuneration Authority's ruling, however should they wish to they could donate their weekly increase to an organisation of their choice. At this stage we are unaware of any Rotorua councillors adopting this practice. Councillors are not required to advise Council if they decide to do this.

As per the Act, we are obliged to advise that you may contact the Ombudsman at the address below if you have any concerns with the response provided by Council, by writing to:

The Office of the Ombudsman

PO Box 10 152

WELLINGTON 6143

Alternatively, you may email info@ombudsman.parliament.nz or use the online complaints form available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/make-a-complaint.

Regards