Media Release 2 May 2005

Councillors adopt proposal for Remuneration Authority Pool 2005/06

At last week's meeting of the Manukau City Council, councillors were presented with the Remuneration Authority's remuneration pool for elected members salaries for the 2005/06 financial year.

The Remuneration Authority is a government appointed body charged with determining the salaries of the mayor, deputy mayor, councillors, committee chairpersons, community board members and community board chairs. The Authority also sets the salaries of central government MPs and judges.

Once the pool has been set the Authority invites Council to make a proposal on how it should be allocated to elected members.

The Council has no say over the size of the remuneration pool. When setting the pool the Authority takes into consideration the district's population, the Council's expenditure, assets and the rate of growth of the district. This year saw an increase in the pool from $1,401,558 to $1,452,406 and an increase in the Mayor's salary from $142,251 to $145,405.

Manukau City's elected members received the third largest remuneration pool in the country behind New Zealand's largest city Auckland and second biggest city Christchurch.

Council's Manager of Democratic Processes, Warwick McNaughton says, "Two remuneration proposals were presented to Council. The first proposal applied the existing formula to the new pool. The second proposal endeavoured to recognise the deputy mayor's workload for the first time. Previously the deputy mayor's salary was set equal to a Committee Chair. An additional two hours per week was allocated to the Deputy Mayor in recognition of the role's heavier workload.

"The Councillor's chose to adopt the second proposal. This proposal will be forwarded to community boards for their endorsement. Any dissenting views are recorded and passed on to the Remuneration Authority", says Mr McNaughton.

If the Authority agrees with the Council's proposal it will issue a formal Determination which is gazetted and given the status of law as a regulation..

The Council does not have the discretion to decline a remuneration determination.

ENDS

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