Decision details

The Business Manager – Human Resources & Training presented a report which sought to review the content of the Pay Policy Statement for 2022/2023 and, subject to any necessary revisions, to recommend the Statement to the Council for approval.

In accordance with Section 38(1) of the Localism Act 2011, Newark & Sherwood District Council are required to produce a Pay Policy Statement for 2012/13 and for each financial year thereafter.

The Pay Policy Statement must set out the authority’s policies for the financial year relating to:

·      the remuneration of the authority’s lowest-paid employees (together with a definition of “lowest-paid employees”) and the reasons for adopting that definition;

·      the relationship between remuneration of Chief Officers and that of other officers (pay multiples); and

·      the remuneration of Chief Officers.

The minimal changes that had been made to the Policy for the year were highlighted in the report. The changes included the removal of the requirement for Directors and Business Managers to progress on the pay scale subject to performance review; the Living Wage Foundation rate increase to £9.90 per hour from 1 October; and some Business Manager posts being regraded.

It was also reported that no pay claim had been submitted by the Trades Unions for 2022/2023 but the Council had budgeted for a 2% pay increase across all grades.  Furthermore, the pay negotiations for 2021/22 had still not been settled, therefore the pay scales shown were as of 1 April 2020.  It was noted that the Chief Officers’ Pay Negotiations had been settled at 1.5% and that the Statement would be updated prior to consideration at the Full Council on 8 March 2022.

AGREED      (unanimously) that the Pay Policy Statement 2022/2023 be recommended for approval by the Full Council at their meeting to be held on 8 March 2022.

Reason for Recommendation

To ensure compliance with Section 38(1) of the Localism Act 2011.