Issue - meetings

Members considered a report submitted by the Executive Member for Corporate Services recommending the Pay Policy Statement 2020/21 for approval. 

Councillor Cutting said the pay policy had been updated and approved for submission to the Council, by the Human Resources Committee on 12 February 2020.  The Pay Policy set out the remuneration for all officers, including basic salary, pensions and all allowances arising from employment.  It was a requirement for this policy to be published annually, and he therefore proposed a motion to support the recommendation in the report to approve the policy. 

Councillor Boylan seconded the motion.

Councillor Redfern expressed concern that the lowest level of pay of £19,370 per annum was £10K below the average wage in 2019.  She said most of the lowest paid workers were likely to be women, and in view of International Women’s Day this week, she wished to raise awareness of this low level of pay.  She was disappointed that the pay policy statement simply stated that the council would not pay less than the amount applicable to the bottom point of the national pay scales. 

The motion being put to the meeting and a vote taken, it was declared CARRIED. 

Resolved – to approve the pay policy statement 2020/21.

The Head of HR and Organisational Development submitted a report on the Council’s Pay Policy Statement before its submission to Council in March 2020.  The Head of HR and Organisational Development provided a summary of the report.  He also advised that the Council had offered a 2% pay rise to staff which had been rejected by UNISON but that negotiations were ongoing.

The Committee supported the Pay Policy Statement and recommended its approval to Council.

RESOLVED – that the Pay Policy Statement 2020/21 be recommended to Council for approval.