Agenda item

To consider a report presenting an updated Pay Policy Statement for the financial year 2024-25.

Laura Fisher, HR & OD Strategy Manager, presented an updated Pay Policy Statement for the financial year 2024/25 to the Committee prior to agreement by Full Council and publication on the Wiltshire Council website.

It was explained that under Chapter 8 of the Localism Act 2011, every Local Authority must prepare a Pay Policy Statement for each financial year, with the proposed version having a publication deadline of 1 April 2024. Officers then referred to Paragraphs 4 to 9 of the report which detailed the minor amendments to the policy. Particular emphasis was given to Paragraphs 6 and 9 which noted the additions to Paragraph 55 of the policy relating to arrangements for the agreement of special severance payments, and the ongoing negotiations between the Council and Trade Unions on changes to unsocial hours and standby and callout allowances.

During the discussion, points included:

·       Members highlighted an error in the policy which stated that the second phase of the Oracle rollout was set to go live in April 2023 instead of April 2024.

·       Members discussed the continuing negotiations between the Council and Trade Unions and the second proposed recommendation as per Paragraph 16 of the report. Officers noted that briefing sessions and an informal meeting were held towards the end of 2023, with a further meeting scheduled for 15 January 2024. That meeting would involve the 3 Trade Unions and would discuss any proposals that they might have which would enable them to reach collective agreement and deliver Council business objectives. It was further confirmed that Members would be contacted prior to the February 2024 Full Council meeting in the event that collective agreement was reached.

·       Members were pleased to see that the ratio between highest and lowest paid employees had decreased slightly as a result of the National Joint Council (NJC) pay award.

·       Clarification was sought on why the Council’s Monitoring Officer’s duties were considered as a separate role. It was clarified that they meant the Acting Returning Officer role. In response, it was explained that the role was a statutory requirement nationally and therefore the officer undertaking that role would receive an additional payment which does not form part of base pay.

·       It was explained that when considering voluntary redundancies and subsequent re-employment, those employees would not be eligible for any employment continuity benefits.

·       Members raised queries with regard to employees on lower pay. Officers explained that Wiltshire pay grades B-O used the NJC pay spine which was nationally negotiated and agreed on between the National Employers and Trade Unions. Although the bottom point of the pay spine provided a little headroom from the national living wage, it was recognised that there was the need to review the national pay spine to ensure that Local Authorities do not pay at the minimum and remain an employer of choice. Any changes nationally would need to be reviewed and implemented at the local level; however, this was not likely to be considered until after the 2024 General Election.

·       Paragraphs 83 and 85 of the report was raised and Members queried what the industry standard was. Officers explained that the guidelines were published through the Government and formed part of the Localism Act 2011, however it was emphasised that the Council’s ratios were well within these guidelines and that these were not a statutory requirement.

Following which, it was:

Resolved:

a)    The Staffing Policy Committee approved the updated pay policy statement for 2024-25 to be presented at Full Council for approval on 20 February 2024.

b)    The Staffing Policy Committee delegated authority to the Director of HR & OD to approve any amendments required to the pay policy statement prior to Full Council as a result of the Trade Unions negotiations on changes to unsocial hours and standby and callout allowances. The Director of HR & OD will inform the Staffing Policy Committee of any chances prior to publication. If agreement on changes to these policies is not reached prior to Full Council, the changes will be made to the pay policy statement for the following year for April 2025.