Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from County Councillor Mein.

Members are asked to consider any pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests they may have to disclose to the meeting in relation to matters under consideration on the agenda.

None.

To be confirmed and signed by the Chair.

Resolved: That the minutes of the meeting held on 7 June 2021 be confirmed as an accurate record and signed by the Chair.

The committee considered a report presented by Janet Mather, Coroner Services Manager, which set out the proposed increase in fees paid to Assistant Coroners who deal with Jury inquests and complex mental health inquests.

It was noted that the report contained an error and that Recommendation i) should have read £472.00, rather than £478.00.

Following a question about the implications of raising the fee paid to Assistant Coroners in some circumstances, the committee was informed that the proposed fees still fell within the salary range agreed by the Joint Negotiating Committee for Coroners.

Resolved: That

i)  The fee paid to Assistant Coroners who deal with Jury inquests and complex mental health inquests be increased to £472.00 per day and £236.00 per half day; and

ii)  The fee paid to Assistant Coroners for all other inquests remain at £416.00 per day and £208.00 per half day.

The committee considered a report presented by Janet Mather, Coroner Services Manager, which detailed the proposed pay award of 1.5% across Coroner salaries and the fees paid to Assistant Coroners, in line with guidance received from the Joint Negotiating Committee for Coroners.

The committee thanked Janet for the reports and for the recent training provided to county councillors on the coroners and registrars services.

Resolved: That

i)  The salary for the Senior Coroner and two Area Coroners be increased by 1.5% as set out in the report, with effect from 1 April 2021; and

ii)  The fees paid to Assistant Coroners be increased by 1.5% as set out in the report, with effect from 1 April 2021.

The committee considered a report presented by Deborah Barrow, Head of Service Human Resources, which set out the draft policy statement which had been produced to clarify the county council's position on the re-engagement of former employees after they had accessed their Local Government Pension Scheme benefits.

Resolved: That the Re-Engagement Following Retirement Policy Statement for Members of the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), as set out in the report, be approved.

An item of urgent business may only be considered under this heading where, by reason of special circumstances to be recorded in the minutes, the Chair of the meeting is of the opinion that the item should be considered at the meeting as a matter of urgency.  Wherever possible, the Chief Executive should be given advance warning of any member’s intention to raise a matter under this heading.

None.

The next meeting of the committee will be held on Monday 11 October 2021 at 2.00pm, at County Hall, Preston.

It was noted that the next meeting of the committee would be held on Monday 11 October 2021 at 10.30am at County Hall, Preston.