Issue - meetings

This report seeks approval to the Pay Policy Statement 2014/15, 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 was already taking positive action to remedy.

The Employment Matters Committee considered this report on 6 February 2014 and its views were set out in the report.

Councillor Wicks, Chairman of the Employment Matters Committee, supported by Councillor Turpin, proposed the recommendations as set out in the report.

Decision:

(a)               The Council agreed the Pay Policy Statement 2014/2015 as set out in Appendix 1 to the report.

(b)               The Council agreed to delegate authority to the Assistant Director, Organisational Services, in consultation with the Chairman of the Employment Matters Committee, to update the Pay Policy Statement 2014/2015 to reflect the final outcome of the Pay and Grade Review.

This report will provide details of the Council’s Pay Policy Statement 2014/15. 

Discussion:

This report provided details of the Council’s Pay Policy Statement 2014/2015. 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 and/or 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. The report referred to the Pay and Grade Review which could potentially have an impact on the content of the Pay Policy Statement. 

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.

Decisions:

a)     The Committee noted the Pay Policy Statement 2014/15 as set out in Appendix 1 to the report and referred it to Full Council for agreement on 20 February 2014.

b)     The Committee recommended to Council that it delegates authority to the Assistant Director, Organisational Services, in consultation with the Chairman of the Employment Matters Committee, to update the Pay Policy Statement 2014/15 to reflect the final outcome of the Pay and Grade Review.