Independents welcome changes to conference regime
Kildare County Council’s Independent Group, (Cllrs. Padraig McEvoy, Paddy Kennedy, Seamie Moore and Catherine Murphy) have welcomed the significant changes to Council Policy in relation to attendance by members at Conferences. At the September meeting of Kildare County Council they acknowledged the need for training, particularly in specialist areas and also for new members, however, they raised serious concerns about the extent of the money being spent and the return to the Council for that spend. On foot of this a meeting was arranged between the Council’s 4 Group Leaders (Cllr Senan Griffin FG, Cllr John McGinley Lab, Cllr Paul Kelly FF and Cllr Catherine Murphy Ind), the end result of which was that new rules were adopted at the Council meeting 29th November 2009.The new regime will have the effect of saving significant money; achieve a more targeted approach to training and ensure the system is more equitable.
The Independents believe more can be done, they specifically highlight the need for in-house training, this would have the benefit of reducing the need to travel long distances to conferences, just as importantly a more structured approach to reporting back to Council needs further consideration. While the Independent group took the initiative they acknowledge the changes could not have occurred without the co-operation of other Council members across the political divide. While they are a small group (4 out of 25 members) they are committed to working together on issues of common concern with a view to achieving meaningful change. Adopted as Policy by Kildare County Council 29th Nov 09
a) The budget available for conferences should be so assigned that each member of the council would have access to one twenty-fifth of the total amount in order to meet the cost of his or her travelling expenses and conference fees;
b) Amounts assigned under (a) above would not be transferable between members:
c) The group leaders to decide at which conferences attendance was justified for the purposes of Section 142 (5) (d) of the Local Government act 2001:
d) Claims for expenses and or conference fees should be made within two months from the date of the relevant conference, failing which they would not be paid;
e) Claims made under (d) above not to be paid unless accompanied by a summary of the proceedings at the relevant conference.
f) That a list of forthcoming conferences be circulated by e-mail to group leaders on the fifth day preceding each monthly council meeting.
g) Details of payments made to members in respect of expenses be posted on the council’s website every quarter.