Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Chief Executive, (copy enclosed).

The Committee considered the report of the Chief Executive seeking the Council’s approval of a Pay Policy Statement for 2025 (attached as Appendix 1 to the report).

It was noted to meet the requirements of the Localism Act 2011 the Council was required to publish a Pay Policy Statement which had been annually approved by the elected Members of the Council. The Pay Policy Statement had been reviewed and reflected the current arrangements for pay at Maldon District Council.

During her presentation of the report the Assistant Director - Resources reported the following two further amendments to the Policy:

·                An amendment to the pay multiple, the ratio between the highest taxable earning paid in the Council and median earnings figure for the whole workforce. The report provided a ratio of 1 to 2.8 as at September 2024, however this could now be updated to account the new Chief Executive role, and this meant the pay ratio would now be 1 to 3.9. Members were advised that this was still substantially below the government guidance of no more than a ratio of 1 to 20.

·                Section 2.1 Chief Officer Pay required amendment as the Chief Finance Officer (Section 151) role was omitted from this section. Members were advised that this would be added to the Policy prior to it being considered by the Council.

In response to comments and questions raised by Members, the Assistant Director - Resources provided the following information:

In line with most Local Authorities (LAs) the Council had spinal points with 4 or 5 increments and upon starting a job you would start at the bottom and progress. On average there is four years of progress in a salary. Being a small Council the opportunities to progress would be restricted.

The Council had matrix grades through which staff are developed and the Council was looking at ways to bring in more development. The Council also had cross development which was a benefit.

The 2024 / 25 pay award rates were governed by the National Joint Council (NJC) and agreed by the Unions. The NJC guidance provided a static sum for those grades below Spinal Column Point J38 and a percentage rate for all grades above that. The 2.5% increase for grades above J38 was a much higher amount of money than those on lower grades and therefore the static sum for SCPs A1 – J37 was brought in to even this out.

The Chairperson then put the recommendation, subject to the two amendments raised by the Assistant Director - Resources and this was duly agreed.

RECOMMENDED that subject to the two amendments detailed above, the Pay Policy Statement attached at APPENDIX 1 to these Minutes be agreed.