Councillor Janette Williamson introduced a positive report by the Head of Procurement that summarised the work being undertaken to explore gaining accreditation with the Real Living Wage Foundation.

The Cabinet noted that this initiative supported all five components of the Wirral Plan as the Council’s contracts supported all services:

·  Safe and Pleasant Communities

·  Sustainable Environment

·  Active and Healthy Lives

·  Brighter Futures

·  Inclusive Economy

The Cabinet was informed that the requirement to provide the National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage was a statutory requirement and thus was already included in the Council’s contracts.

The Living Wage Foundation was an independent organisation that recognised the leadership of responsible employers who choose to pay a real Living Wage based on the cost of living, not just the government minimum.

Councillor Williamson reported that there were three key reasons why it mattered to pay the Real Living Wage:

·  Safeguarding workers from in–work poverty: It was only through accreditation that local authorities could ensure that all the money they spend was being used to pay people the Real Living Wage.

·  Investing in the local economy: The cumulative impact of local authorities paying the Real Living Wage. When workers earned enough to live, they had more income to spend in the local economy.

·  Demonstrating Civic Leadership: Strong and visible leadership was important to the growth of the Real Living Wage and there was a huge opportunity for local authorities to play an even greater role, beyond their own workers, in tackling in-work poverty in their communities.

Councillor Williamson informed that through accreditation, a number of local authorities were making a commitment to tackle in-work poverty in their communities.  They were ensuring that all staff were paid at least the living wage and that the independently calculated rates were implemented each year to keep up with the cost of living.  As well as directly employed staff the accreditor’s must also ensure that all third party regularly contracting staff received the real living wage. 

Councillor Williamson reported that the Council must give employees dignity, respect and enough income so that they could have a good quality of life.  This was the bear minimum that the Council owed to its residents and its workforce. Inequality was at the very heart of what the Council had to tackle going forward. It had to look at and reduce inequalities of income, health and wellbeing.  This was a great step forward.  Councillor Williamson was pleased that she could end her tenue as a Cabinet Member on this optimistic note.  She was confident that this would move forward and the Council would be accredited soon.

Councillor Anita Leech welcomed the detailed report.  She informed that the Covid-19 Crisis had made people realise that they were very dependent on people who were paid a low wage and so was pleased about the discussions being held about this.  People who had been helping to save lives were struggling with food and fuel poverty.

Councillor Chris Jones thanked Councillor Williamson for the work she had put in on this.  She knew what a difference the extra money had meant to many care workers during this crisis.  These people had put themselves at risk every time they went to work, as well as the cleaners and everybody else.

Councillor Pat Hackett reported that the Council was leading the way on this with others following.  The Council was the only one in the Liverpool City Region to do this and Members should be proud that they were putting money into the pockets of workers on the frontline, taking risks on the Council’s behalf.  Councillor Hackett thanked Councillor Williamson for leading on this and for leading on the Community Wealth initiative and the Community Bank.  All of this would make a difference to the lives of local people and local businesses.

Councillor Tom Usher informed that he worked with autistic adults for eight years and during the lockdown his organisation had been working extremely hard to make sure everyone of the service users was safe.  There had not been a single confirmed case of Coronavirus.  The dedication and responsibility people take on for a very low wage dealing with the most sensitive and important aspects of people’s lives.  Seeking to gain accreditation was a fantastic step and Councillor Usher fully supported the initiative.

Councillor Usher declared a personal interest in this item of business by virtue of his work with Autism Together.

Councillor Stuart Whittingham also thanked Councillor Williamson for leading on this initiative.  He reported that it was benefiting everyone as the extra money received would be spent in the local economy because of the multiplier effect. 

RESOLVED: That

(1)  the activity undertaken so far in working towards gaining accreditation to the Real Living Wage Foundation and the next steps and further analysis to be undertaken be noted;

(2)  a further report be submitted to the Policy and Resources Committee that recommends seeking accreditation from the RLW Foundation if the further work undertaken confirms this; and

(3)  it be noted that approval has already been made to the Care Sector under the Covid-19 response for providers to be sufficiently funded to pay their employees who are engaged on Wirral Council contracts the Real Living Wage.