Issue - meetings

The Employment Committee

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL:  

That Council approve the Pay Policy Statement.

Report attached.

Council AGREED:

To approve the Pay Policy Statement.

Councillor Ray Manning, Chairman of the Employment Committee, proposed the recommendation of the Employment Committee that the Pay Policy Statement for 2018/19 be approved. In so doing, he drew particular attention to the mean gender pay gap of – 4.99% in favour of females as indicated in paragraph 17.2 of the Policy.

Councillor Val Barrett seconded the proposal.

During discussion:

·         Councillor Williams, whilst welcoming the indication in the Policy Statement that the Council would have regard  to the Living Wage Foundation rate when agreeing annual pay awards for staff each year, suggested that it would be preferable for the Council to commit to honouring that rate.

·         Councillor de Lacey expressed disappointment that the Council did not have a policy that discouraged a wide disparity between the Council’s lowest and highest paid employees and that annual pay increases were not shared amongst all employees at the same rate.

·         Councillor Hazel Smith referred to paragraph 17.6 of the Policy Statement which seemed to indicate that the reason the gender pay gap reporting appeared healthy was that the Council’s workforce in the bottom quartile was mainly male as the Council directly employed the refuse operatives. Councillor Smith suggested that perhaps an alternative methodology for reporting on shared services should be considered.

On being put to the vote, the proposal was approved by affirmation.

The Council:

RESOLVED:

To approve the Pay Policy Statement for 2018/19.

The Committee

RECOMMENDED THAT COUNCIL            Approve the Annual Pay Policy Statement.

The Head of People and Organisational Development presented this report, which advised the Committee of the requirements of the Localism Act and invited them to approve the Annual Pay Policy Statement.

Gender Pay Gap Reporting

It was noted that due to new equality legislation the Council was required to publish the average gender pay gap. It was understood that the gender pay gap data contrasts the average pay for men and women at the Council. This was not the same as equal pay, which aimed to ensure that men and women were paid the same amount for the same work. The Head of People and Organisational Development explained that both the mean average (-4.99%) and median average (-17.12%) pay gap was in favour of female employees. Reasons for this included:

·         The number of male waste operatives, who were paid in the lower quartile.

·         The transfer of City Council staff as part of the Joint Waste Service.

·         The Council employed more women than men in both the upper middle quartile and the upper quartile.

Apprentices

The Head of People and Organisational Development agreed to update the Pay Policy Statement to include the number of apprentices.

Lowest paid employees

It was noted that the ratio between highest and lowest paid was 1:9.1. This compared favourably with other authorities and the private sector in general. The Council does not currently pay staff below the Living Wage.

Appeal panel

Councillor Ray Manning announced that, as Chairman, he was appointing Councillors Simon Edwards, Alex Riley and Bridget Smith to the forthcoming appeal panel, the date of which was to be announced.

The Committee

RECOMMENDED THAT COUNCIL            Approve the Annual Pay Policy Statement.