Elected Member Briefing Note 2023, Issue 90
About this briefing note
Report by: Thomas Glen, Chief Executive
Date: 67September 2023
Subject: SLARC survey results
Responsible Officer: Thomas Glen, Chief Executive
Details
Purpose
This paper provides Members with an update on the Scottish Local Authority Renumeration Committee (SLARC) survey carried out in June this year.
Briefing Information
Background
SLARC is carrying out a review of councillor remuneration and the duties of councillors as a means of removing barriers and increasing diversity of elected representatives. Its recommendations will be submitted to the Minister for Local Government, Empowerment and Planning.
To ensure these accurately reflect the experience of Scotland's councillors, it carried out a survey in June to gain a better understanding of councillors' roles and experiences. The results of the survey will provide an evidential basis for recommendations around remuneration, highlight the vital role councillors play in local democracy and allow SLARC to consider other issues such as staffing support.
Briefing information
There was a 64% return rate for the survey, meaning 785 councillors across Scotland responded. Results from Perth and Kinross are shown in the table below, alongside the national results. Attached with this email is an infographic bulleting showing the main headlines emerging from the survey and information on the demographic cohort of Elected Members who completed the survey in Perth and Kinross.
Emerging Themes
Question 1: Has the workload and responsibilities of Councillors increased and become more complex?
| Perth and Kinross | Scotland |
| 58.8% of members are frequently or very frequently directly approached by constituents when not actively engaged in council business | 58.5% of members are frequently or very frequently directly approached by constituents when not actively engaged in council business |
| 73.5% of members do not limit the hours during which they can be contacted by constituents | Almost 70% of members do not limit the hours during which they can be contacted by constituents |
| 50% of members reported that it was easy to get responses from officers on case work issues they had raised, and 35 % of members said responses from officers took longer than 5 days. | More than 49.2% of members reported that it was easy to get responses from officers on case work issues they had raised, with more than 72% of responses received with five days |
| 76.5% of members receive a secretarial service, 6% a personal assistant service and 18% have access to a case management system | Almost 50% of members receive a secretarial service, more than 20% a personal assistant service and almost 41% have access to a case management system |
| 91.2% of members find the council's working arrangement, including physical access and digital resources to be good or very good | Over 78% of members find the council's working arrangement , including physical access and digital resources to be good or very good |
Question 2: Has the use of email, social media and other digital platforms increased pressure on Councillors and increased demands from their constituents, including expecting speedier responses?
| Perth and Kinross | Scotland |
| 70.6% of members spend between one and 10 hours per week on social media in their Council role | Almost 62% of members spend between one and 10 hours per week on social media in their Council role |
| 35.3% of members do not find social media activity helpful or unhelpful, 20.6% find it unhelpful and 44.1% find it helpful | 39% of members do not find social media activity helpful or unhelpful, almost 25.5% find it unhelpful and over 35.5% find it helpful |
| 70.6% of members find social media generates additional case work, and over 73% have experienced adverse comments or personal criticism as a result of their social media activity | Over 67% of members find social media generates additional case work, and over 65% have experienced adverse comments or personal criticism as a result of their social media activity |
| 42% of members do not feel they have received sufficient support from the council to deal with the media and social media, whereas 58% say they have received sufficient support | Just under 42% of members do not feel they have received sufficient support from the council to deal with the media and social media, whereas over 58% say they have received sufficient support |
Question 3: Has there been an increase in formal committee meetings (and the duration of these meetings) and informal meetings, such as working groups within a council?
| Perth and Kinross | Scotland |
| Members are involved in 2-10 internal Council Committees. On average 5 internal committees. | Members are involved in 0-35 internal Council Committees. On average 5 internal committees |
| Members are involved in 0 - 9 external partnerships and bodies. On average, Members are part of 3 external committees. | Members are involved in 0 - 19 external partnerships and bodies. On average, Members are part of 3 external committees. |
| Members are involved in 0-4 national partnerships and bodies including Cosla. On average Members are part of 1 national partnership. | Members are involved in 0-7 national partnerships and bodies including Cosla. On average Members are part of 1 national partnership |
| 76.5% of members reported their involvement in partnerships or committees has become more demanding since they first became involved, and 21% reported it had not changed. | 73% of members reported their involvement in partnerships or committees has become more demanding since they first became involved, 23.5% reported it had not changed and 2.3% said it was less demanding |
| Between 0-8 community councils operate within members' wards (an average of 4) and 79% of members regularly attend community council meetings. This ranges from 1-7 meetings per month | Between zero and thirty four community councils operate within members' wards (an average of four) and almost 90% of members regularly attend community council meetings. This ranges from zero to ten meetings per month |
| 56% of members regularly attend Parent Council meetings | Just under than 53% of members regularly attend Parent Council meetings |
| Members spend between 0-4 evenings per week attending community meetings. On average just under two evenings. | Members spend between zero and seven evenings per week attending community meetings. On average just over two evenings. |
Question 4: What is the breakdown of the average time spent by a Councillor carrying out their day-to-day duties e.g. committee meetings, constituent queries etc?
| Perth and Kinross | Scotland |
| 29% of members consider their role as councillors to be full time. | More than 42% of members consider their role as councillors to be full time |
| 24% are self-employed and 15% are in full time employment. | More than 13% are self employed and just over 16% are in full time employment |
| 20.6% are in part-time employment. | Almost 22% are in part-time employment |
| 12% are unpaid carers (including childcare). | More than 15% are retired in receipt of occupational and/or state pensions |
| Outside their role as councillors, members who are employed are mainly professional occupations (58%), and managerial roles (17%). | Outside their role as councillors, members who are employed are managers (19%), professional/associate professional occupations (23%), administrative roles (26%), associate professional occupations (6.6%), caring and leisure (7%), and sales or customer services (6%) |
| 18% have employers who allow them limited or unlimited paid time off for council business. 9% are allowed unlimited unpaid time off and 27% are allowed limited unpaid time off. | Just under 7% of members have employers who allow them unlimited paid time off for council business, and the 21% get limited time off. Over 8% are allowed unlimited unpaid time off. |
| 66.6% of members have employers who are supportive of their council duties | Over 69% of members have employers who are supportive of their council duties |
| Around 36.4% of members spend 31-40 hours per week on employment, education or caring duties outwith their council duties, while 36.3% spend up to 20 hours per week. 18% spend over 41 hours per week on these duties | Around 39% of members spend 26- 40 hours per week on employment, education or caring duties outwith their council duties, while 34% spend up to 20 hours per week. 10% spend between 40 and 55 hours per week |
| Around 38% of members hold regular surgeries, none of these are held weekly and 42% are in person. | Around 65% of members hold regular surgeries, 14% of these are held weekly and 58% are in person |
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