20-23 2020/21 Determination of the Local Government Remuneration Tribunal
| Category: Circular to Councils | Status: Active |
| Circular Details: 20-23 / 22 June 2020 / A707486 | Contact: Council Governance Team/ 02 4428 4100/ olg@olg.nsw.gov.au |
| Previous Circular: 19-07 | Attachments: Nil |
| Who should read this: Councillors / General Managers | Action required: Councils to Implement |
| PDF Version: | Council Circular 20-23 – PDF |
What’s new or changing
- The Local Government Remuneration Tribunal (the Tribunal) has determined that there will be no increase in mayoral and councillor fees for the 2020/21 financial year.
- The Tribunal is required to determine the remuneration categories of councils and mayoral offices at least once every 3 years under section 239 of the Local Government Act 1993 (the Act). The Tribunal last undertook a significant review of the categories in 2017 and has undertaken a review as part of its 2020 determination.
- For the Metropolitan group the Tribunal has determined to retain the existing categories and has amended the population criteria applicable to Metropolitan Large and Metropolitan Medium.
- For the Non-Metropolitan group, the Tribunal has determined to:
- create two new categories – Major Strategic Area and Regional Centre
- rename one category – Regional City to Major Regional City, and
- revise the criteria for some of the existing categories to account for the new categories.
• The Tribunal has determined the following categories:
| Metropolitan | Non-Metropolitan |
| Principal CBD | Major Regional City |
| Major CBD | Major Strategic Area |
| Metropolitan Large | Regional Strategic Area |
| Metropolitan Medium | Regional Centre |
| Metropolitan Small | Regional Rural |
| Rural |
- Each council is allocated into one of these categories based on criteria identified by the Tribunal in Appendix 1 of its determination.
What this will mean for your council
- Sections 248 and 249 of the Act require councils to fix and pay an annual fee based on the Tribunal’s determination for the 2020/21 financial year.
- While there is to be no increase in fees paid for the 2020/21 financial year, mayors and councillors in some councils may receive an increase as a result of a change to their council’s categorisation.
Key points
- The level of fees paid will depend on the category the council is in.
- A council cannot fix a fee higher than the maximum amount determined by the Tribunal.
- If a council does not fix a fee, the council must pay the minimum fee determined by the Tribunal.
Where to go for further information
- The Tribunal’s report and determination is available at www.remtribunals.nsw.gov.au/local-government.
- For further information please contact the Council Governance Team on 02 4428 4100 or by email at olg@olg.nsw.gov.au.
Tim Hurst
Deputy Secretary
Local Government, Planning and Policy