Issue - meetings

To consider the Pay Policy Statement for 2013-14

The Committee considered a report on the Pay Policy Statement for 2013-14.

The Council was required under section 38 of the Localism Act 2011 to produce a Pay Policy Statement by 31 March on an annual basis.

Council had approved the 2012-13 Statement in February 2012. Subsequent revisions to reflect amendments made to redundancy payments, payments on termination and compromise agreements were approved by Council in July 2012. 

The Pay Policy for 2013-14 had been updated to reflect a number of changes – these being:

·        the continuation of the increment freeze to 30 November 2013

·        changes to the Local Government Pension Scheme to reflect the requirements under the Automatic Enrolment Regulations 2012 and changes to pension bandings effective from 1 April

·        updating of Job titles, salary levels and organisation structure to reflect changes

·        amended information on pay multiples to reflect updated figures as well as National Minimum Wage rates effective from October 2012.

The Committee recommended the following changes:

• the changes between the 2012-13 version and the updated version be highlighted for ease of reference
• information on the Relocation Expense Policy be included
• the current provision whereby any changes to existing posts or additional posts created with a salary above £100,000 are subject to a vote by full Council be amend to include all officers above JNC Chief Officer conditions reporting directly to the Chief Executive
• the current provision whereby the decision and approval of any termination payment and approval for the terms of compromise agreement for Chief Officers (Statutory, non Statutory and those earning over £100,000) which rest with the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader of the Council and Chairman of Staffing Committee be amended from above £100,000 to all officers on JNC Chief Officers conditions reporting directly to the Chief Executive
• proposed that Council publish the names of all individuals earning in excess of £56,000 in line with the Government’s recommendations, subject to individual agreement where earnings are below £150,000
• the decision making process for recruitment decision be amended to require a vote of full Council for all Officers on JNC Chief Officer conditions reporting directly to the Chief Executive, in addition to those already stated in the Pay Policy Statement.

RESOLVED:

That the Pay Policy Statement 2013-14, as amended, be recommended to Council for approval.