Employment and Appointments Committee – 14 February 2013

Minute 66 is attached, together with the report of the Acting Director of Law, HR and Asset Management

The Council gave consideration to minute 66 of the Employment and Appointments Committee held on 14 February 2013 and to the report of the Acting Director of Law, HR and Asset Management in relation to the Pay Policy Statement 2013/2014. His report was submitted, in accordance with the Localism Act 2011, which required Council’s to determine and publish annual pay policy statements.

The Employment and Appointments Committee –

(1)  Recommended to Council, for approval, the Council’s Pay Policy Statement 2013/2014;

(2)  Noted the increase of the Living Wage, effective from 1 November 2012.

(3)  Noted the responsibility of the Employment and Appointments Committee to ensure the provisions set out in the Pay Policy were applied consistently throughout the Council, and recommend any amendments to the Council.

On a motion by Councillor Phil Davies and seconded by Councillor Ann McLachlan, it was –

Resolved (64:0) (one abstention) – That the Pay Policy Statement 2013/2014 be approved.

The Acting Director of Law, HR and Asset Management submitted a report, in accordance with The Localism Act 2011, which required Councils to determine and publish annual pay policy statements.

The requirements of the Act included:

·  The Pay Policy statement to be approved by The Full Council, in advance of the financial year to which it relates.

·  The Pay Policy Statement to be published on the Council website.

The Pay Policy Statement was required to set out the Council’s policies relating to the following:

·  Chief Officer remuneration, including salary, allowances, and enhancements at termination.

·  Remuneration of its lowest paid employees.

·  The relationship between Chief Officer remuneration and that of other employees.

The proposed Pay Policy Statement 2013/14 included a revised pay structure to take account of the Living Wage increase (November 2012). The revised pay structure would ensure that all Council employees were paid at a rate equal to or higher than the Living Wage hourly rate of £7.45.

With regard to the Living Wage, the Leader of the Council, encouraged the Head of HR and Organisational Development to seek formal accreditation from the Living Wage Foundation for the Council to become a ‘Living Wage Employer’.

Resolved - That this Committee:

(1)  Recommends to Council, for approval, the Council’s Pay Policy Statement 2013/14;

(2)  Notes the increase of the Living Wage, effective from 1 November 2012.

(3)  Notes the responsibility of the Employment and Appointments Committee to ensure the provisions set out in the Pay Policy are applied consistently throughout the Council, and recommend any amendments to the Council.