Issue - meetings

This report seeks approval to the Pay Policy Statement 2013/2014, in accordance with the Localism Act 2011.

Discussion:

This report provided details of the Pay Policy Statement, as required under section 38(1) of the Localism Act 2011.The statement covered the remuneration of the Chief Executive, Directors, Monitoring Officer, Section 151 Officer and Assistant Directors, the remuneration of lowest paid officers, the relationship between the two, and the Council’s pay policies.

A Diversity Impact Assessment screening had been undertaken and was set out in Appendix 2 to the report. The screening process did not highlight any significant adverse impact to any of the protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010 other than “age” which the council is already taking positive action to remedy.

The Employment Matters Committee considered this report on 19 February 2013 and its views were set out in an addendum report, tabled at the meeting.

Councillor Carr, Chairman of the Employment Matters Committee, supported by Councillor Adrian Gulvin, proposed the recommendations as set out in the addendum report.

Decision:

(a)   The Council agreed the Pay Policy Statement 2013/2014 as set out in Appendix 1 to the report.

(b)   The Council agreed that future Pay Policy Statements include comparative information in respect of the relationship between upper and lower paid staff.

This report sets out the Pay Policy Statement 2013/14, in accordance with the Localism Act 2011 for referral to Full Council for agreement.

Discussion:

This report provided details of the Council’s Pay Policy Statement 2013/2014. Section 38 (1) of the Localism Act 2011 required English and Welsh Local Authorities to produce such a statement for 2012/13 and for each financial year after that. This set out the policies on remunerating chief officers and other employees, and to set out policy on the lowest paid employees also taking account of charges, fees, allowances, increases in/enhancements of pension entitlements and termination payments. The report noted that Medway did not differentiate significantly between senior and lower levels in terms of the application of its pay and reward policies.

Members asked whether any analysis had been undertaken on the relationship between the upper and lower paid staff and on the basis that such work had not been carried out thus far, that this be included in the future.

A Diversity Impact Assessment screening had been undertaken on the proposals and was included at Appendix 2 to the report. The screening process did not highlight any significant adverse impact to any of the protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010 other than “age” which the Council was already taking positive action to remedy.

Decision:

(a)   The Committee noted the Pay Policy Statement 2013/14 as set out in Appendix 1 to the report and referred it to Full Council for agreement on 21 February 2013.

(b)   The Committee recommended to Full Council that future Pay Policy Statements include comparative information in respect of the relationship between upper and lower paid staff.