Agenda item

The Committee considered a report seeking endorsement for those employees whose fulltime equivalent salary was less than £21,000 per annum being paid £250 as an additional local pay award for the financial year 2011/12.  The Cabinet had considered this report at its meeting on 19^th September 2011 and had endorsed the proposal. 

In discussing the proposal members were concerned about how the policy would be implemented to ensure no-one earning less than £21,000 could effectively “leapfrog” over a member of staff earning £21,000.  Officers gave an assurance that this could not happen as pay scales did not provide for a salary of £20,900.  The Commissioner for Performance and Accountability welcomed the report as it would be taking care of lower paid staff in the authority which was a manifesto pledge.  Members of the Committee indicated they were disappointed this was a one-off payment and was not being consolidated into salaries and Councillors Stokes and Plenty, whilst supporting the local pay award, requested that their dissent be recorded for this reason.  Members were advised that the Cabinet had also recommended that school based staff be awarded the pay award and that this was being pursued. 

Resolved – (Councillors Stokes and Plenty dissenting)

(a)  That the Council makes local pay award of £250 for all centrally employed staff whose full time salary is below £21,000 per annum.

(b)  That the operational details of arrangements for these payments be determined by the Chief Executive as Head of the Paid Service in consultation with the Director of Resources and Regeneration and AD Professional Services.  The payments will be made using the established pay award arrangements and principles for dealing with starters and leavers and pro rata payments.

(c)  That the Cabinet’s recommendation that this be extended to school based staff be supported.