Issue details

Pay Award 2020-2021

Annual Pay Award for SCDC employees

 

South Cambridgeshire District Council has a local agreement with recognised trade unions which covers negotiation of local terms and conditions, pay scales and pay awards. In considering annual pay offers and agreements the council takes account of national pay negotiations, local job market forces and affordability.

 

The Local Government Association advised local government employers in April 2020, that a final pay offer had been made to Trade Unions and rejected. It was accepted that agreement was unlikely to be reached at the present time.  The impact of the COVID19 crisis and lockdown restrictions has also affected the progress of discussions.

 

Local pay discussions and negotiations with the recognised trade unions at SCDC (GMB and Unison) had commenced prior to CV19 lockdown but have been suspended for the reasons highlighted above. The trade unions submitted a pay claim which has been taken into account during discussions.

 

It was agreed by the council and trade unions that formal local negotiations would be suspended until such time that details of the terms of any national pay agreement were available.

 

The Covid19 crisis has meant that Trade Unions, staff and Members have been focused on delivering support and services to residents and businesses in a way which is safe for all.   Employees have been working to maintain services and deliver new ones and Members and Leadership Team felt that staff salaries should be increased by 2%, which was approved in the 2020/2021 budget.

 

Trade Unions have been consulted on this and have agreed to this increase. The caveat being that formal discussions are resumed once the national position is clear.

 

Considerations

 

1.   Trade Unions submitted a pay claim for 2020/2021 to the Council. The claim included the following:

-       A percentage across the board increase on all salary points and allowances that at a bare minimum matches the NJC award.

-       A minimum pay point of £10 per hour or similar ‘bottom loading’

-       A joint review on the causes of workplace stress (using the HSE management Stress Standards) 

-       Car-loan scheme to compensate staff who travel between sites (old Essential users)

-        A one day increase to the minimum paid annual leave entitlement

Cabinet were made aware of this pay claim.

 

2.   Other factors

·         The statutory National Living Wage is currently £8.21ph for 25year-olds and over. This will rise to £8.72.

·         The ‘Real Living Wage’ set by the Living Wage Foundation, at the time of the Council’s final pay offer to trade unions and union ballot was £9.30ph (outside of London).

·         Current policy is that South Cambridgeshire District Council should have regard to the Living Wage when reviewing annual pay awards for Council employees.

·         The 2020/2021 budget was agreed by Council in February 2020, this makes provision for a 2% increase on salaries for this financial year.

·         The Lead Cabinet Member can only approve a pay award within planned budget levels. Approval for a percentage increase above 2% would need to be considered and approved by Full Council.

·         It should be noted that Member allowances are increased by the equivalent percentage amount.

 

Implications

Financial modelling has been undertaken to assess the impact of the NJC pay deal and Living Wage:

·         The impact of applying a 2% increase on all SCDC pay points is within agreed budgets.

Decision type: Non-key

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Notice of proposed decision first published: 23/06/2020

Decision due: 23 June 2020 by Lead Cabinet member for Resources

Lead member: Lead Cabinet member for Resources

Lead director: Chief Executive

Contact: Susan Gardner Craig, Head of HR and Corporate Services Email: Susan.GardnerCraig@scambs.gov.uk Tel: 01954 713285.

Consultees

Cabinet has been briefed and are supportive of the approached outlined in the recommendations above. Cabinet confirmed their support for the Lead Cabinet Member Finance and Staffing to make the decision.

Political group leaders have been consulted and are supportive of the approach.

Trade Unions have been consulted on the above.

Purpose of Report: None

Decisions

Agenda items

Documents

  • Pay Award Decision