The Assembly,
Considering that from 1949 to 1956 the duties of Deputy Clerk of the Assembly were carried out by a temporary member of the staff;
Noting that an estimate of 750,000 francs appeared under Sub-Head 28 —Remuneration of temporary staff—of Vote II of the 1956 Budget as item " Fixed annual payment to a temporary Clerk of the Assembly"
Having regard to the decision of the Secretary-General that the duties of Deputy Clerk shall henceforth be carried out by a permanent official of the Office of the Clerk ;
Considering that the increased responsibility of the permanent official acting as Deputy Clerk calls for adequate financial recognition, as specified in Article 12 of the Staff Regulations ;
Considering that the remuneration of the said permanent official should be charged, not to Vote II of the Budget, but to Vote I;;
Having regard to its Opinion No. 19 concerning the 1957 Budget,
Adopts the .following Opinion;
The sum of 360,000 francs should be granted to the permanent official of the Clerk's Office entrusted with the duties of Deputy Clerk and should be charged to Sub-Head 5 (b) of the Budget : " Allowances for special duties ".
From the opening of the first Session of the Consultative Assembly in 1949 staff have been appointed with experience of parliamentary matters in various member countries of the Council of Europe. Since that time the duties of Deputy Clerk of the Assembly have been carried out by an official recruited on a temporary basis for the duration of Assembly Sessions. He resigned in April 1956
The remuneration of this temporary official, amounting to 750,000 francs, was included' in the estimates for Sub-Head 28 (Remuneration of Temporary Staff) of Vote II of the Budget (Expenditure relating to the Consultative Assembly).
A ruling by the Secretary-General, of the 13th July 1956, entrusted the duties of Deputy Clerk of the Assembly, during and between the sessions of the Assembly, to a permanent member of the Clerk's staff.
Having regard to the ranks of the Clerk's staff, the highest of which is that of Counsellor, the staff member carrying out the duties of Deputy Clerk will assume special responsibilities which do not correspond to the normal salary for an official of his rank and which therefore call for adequate remuneration, as provided for by Article 12 of the Staff Regulations, which runs as follows :
" The Secretary-General may award a special allowance to members of the staff performing duties of special responsibility beyond that normal for their rank ."
An allowance of 30,000 francs per month, i. e. 360,000 francs par annum, would appear to be justifiable.
As the staff member concerned belongs to the permanent establishment, this allowance can no longer be included under Sub-Head 28, relating to temporary staff, but must be charged to Sub-Head 5 (b) " Allowances for special duties ", in Vote I of the Budget for 1957, this item being increased by 360,000 francs.
As the sum formerly received by the j temporary Deputy Clerk was 750,000 francs, | the effect of the new arrangement proposed will be to reduce the Budget total by 390,000 francs as compared with previous years.