Agenda item

Pay Settlement 2021/22

Report to follow.

Minutes:

The Committee was informed that pay negotiation discussions had been ongoing since November 2020 and anumber of meetings had taken place with Members and Staff Representatives. It was noted that no percentage cost of living award for 2021/22 had been offered by the Council but negotiations were ongoing in relation to alternatives in the form of additional holiday and one-off payments to staff earning under a specified salary.

 

At the Joint Staff Consultative Group meeting that morning, a majority of members of the Group present at the meeting had agreed the following recommendation:

 

(i)        that no percentage cost of living award be agreed for 2021/22;

 

(ii)       that a non-contractual additional day’s leave be awarded to all staff in 2021/22, to be taken on Christmas Eve, or where the member of staff is required to work on Christmas Eve, added to their annual leave entitlement for 2021/22;

 

(iii)      a non-consolidated payment of £250 be made to staff earning less than £28,000 FTE; and

 

(iv)      to note that Staff Representatives, whilst recognising the current position, wish to see a pay increase for 2022/23.

 

It was advised that this recommendation had not received a majority of support from both the Member and the Staff sides, as required by the Joint Staff Consultative Group’s Constitution. However, the recommendation from the Group had been supported by Staff Representatives and it was recognised that Members were able to propose other options at this meeting.

 

The Committee considered the recommendation from the Joint Staff Consultative Group and supported the proposal concerning the additional day’s leave for 2021/22. It was reported that staff unable to take Christmas Eve as leave due to work requirements would have the day added to their leave entitlement. It was also recognised that, if necessary, management discretion could be used in order to respect different cultural and religious practices.

 

Members discussed the recommendation for a one-off payment of £250 for staff earning less than £28,000 FTE. It was reported that there were 95 staff members earning £28,000 or less, which would result in expenditure of £23,750. It was also noted that an award of £250 was equivalent to a 1% increase for staff earning £25,000 and a 0.8% increase for a member of staff earning £28,000. During the discussion, Members raised a number of matters for consideration, including the national pay offer, the current economic situation, increases to the cost of living, and the cost in relation to the Council’s overall budget.  Following this discussion it was agreed by a majority not to recommend to Full Council that a one-off payment of £250 be made to staff earning under £28,000.

 

RECOMMENDED to Full Council

 

(i)        that no percentage cost of living award be agreed for 2021/22;

 

(ii)      that a non-contractual additional day’s leave be awarded to all staff in 2021/22, to be taken on Christmas Eve, or where the member of staff is required to work on Christmas Eve, added to their annual leave entitlement for 2021/22; and

 

(iii)     To note that Staff Representatives, whilst recognising the current position, wish to see a pay increase for 2022/23.