Issue - meetings

By Councillor Neil Ross - Provision of Lunches and Refreshments to Councillors

“Council notes

1)         That Councillors are paid according to the rates set by the Scottish Parliament. 

2)         At regular meetings of the full Council, lunch is provided to councillors and staff attending the meeting.

3)         A light lunch is provided to councillors and staff taking part in all-day meetings of the Licensing Board and the Regulatory Committee’s Licensing Sub-Committee.

4)         Food and refreshments, i.e. tea and coffee, are sometimes provided for internal meetings of councillors.

5)         No contributions are sought from councillors or staff in connection with items at 2, 3 and 4 above.

Council accepts there are legitimate reasons for the provision of lunches as described above, principally to ensure efficient time management for the meeting participants and to protect the meeting participants from undue lobbying.

Council therefore agrees to

1)         continue the practice of providing lunches and refreshments as described above to ensure the smooth running of Council business; and

2)         request a report to the Policy and Sustainability Committee within two cycles to explore options for a simple mechanism which could facilitate councillors contributions to cover the direct costs of the lunches and refreshments provided.”