Issue - meetings

To receive and approve the Councils Pay Policy Statement, as recommended by the Appointments, Remuneration and Chief Officer Conduct Committee (13 January 2025) (Minute 99 refers). The minutes of that meeting and Pay Policy Statement are attached to this agenda.

The Leader of the Council MOVED and Councillor Davis SECONDED that the recommendations of the Appointments, Remuneration and Chief Officer Conduct Committee be approved and that the Pay Policy Statement for 2025/26 (and consequential changes to the Council’s Constitution) as set out at Minute 99 of that Committee be endorsed and the Constitution amended accordingly.

The Motion was put to the vote and declared CARRIED.

The Council considered the recommendations of the Appointments, Remuneration and Chief Officer Conduct Committee held on 13 January 2025 relating to the adoption by the County Council of the proposed Pay Policy Statement for 2025/26.

The Leader of the Council MOVED and Councillor Davis SECONDED that the recommendations of the Appointments, Remuneration and Chief Officer Conduct Committee be approved and that the Pay Policy Statement for 2025/26 (and consequential changes to the Council’s Constitution) as set out at Minute 99 of that Committee be endorsed and the Constitution amended accordingly.

The Motion was put to the vote and declared CARRIED.

Joint Report of the Director of Legal and Democratic Services and Director of People and Culture outlining the proposed Pay Policy Statement for 2025/2026, attached.

RESOLVED that the revised Pay Policy Statement (Appendix 1 of the Report) for 2025/26 be endorsed and commended to the Council.

The Committee considered the Joint Report of the Director of Legal and Democratic Services and Director of People and Culture which outlined the proposed Pay Policy Statement for 2025/2026.

The Pay Policy Statement, required under the Localism Act 2011, was a statutory requirement and needed to be reviewed annually.

The Localism Act 2011 further required the Pay Policy Statement to include Deputy Chief Officers (defined by the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 as those reporting directly to or those who were directly accountable to a statutory or non-statutory Chief Officer.

The Pay Policy Statement took account of the implications of the National Living Wage on the pay and grading structure, recruitment and retention difficulties and the changing nature of work and roles within the Council.

A Pay and Allowances Review continued to be conducted and the Committee noted the launch of the staff benefits platform in 2023, the Annual Leave Purchase scheme in February 2024, Gymflex bieng launched in October 2024 and the accessibility of the car leasing scheme enhanced by introducing pre-loved electric vehicles.

Appendix 2 of the Pay Policy Statement set out the current Officer and Chief Officer roles and salary levels based on 2024/25 pay rates. No changes were proposed to salary levels until the agreement of the 2025/26 pay award.

The Report recommended that the Committee endorsed the revised Pay Policy Statement for submission to the Council.

Members asked and made comments on the following matters clarification around market supplements, the term special salary, coroner appointments.

It was agreed that fuller definitions could be provided in future reports.

It was MOVED by Councillor McInnes, SECONDED by Councillor Saywell and

RESOLVED that the Committee revised Pay Policy Statement (Appendix 1 to the Report) for 2025/26 be endorsed and recommended to the Council for adoption and the subsequent amendments to the Council’s Constitution.