Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Living Wage Task and Finish Group.

At the Council Meeting of the 25th April 2013 a decision was supported by all members of political parties to support the development of the Councils consideration of the Living Wage. The Council Meeting requested that an all-party ‘Task and Finish’ group be formed to consider the implementation of a Living Wage policy.

This report provides an overview of the process undertaken by the Task and Finish group in considering local implementation of the Living Wage and makes a series of recommendations in relating to implementing the Living Wage for Stockport Council and School employees.

Executive is asked to agree to:

·         Implement the Living Wage at the rate of £7.65per hour for all Council and School employees with effect of the 1st April 2014;

·         Pay the Living wage as a supplement to employees currently paid below the rate set;

·         Increasing the Living Wage supplement in line with the annual calculation produced by the Living Wage Foundation;

·         Implement the steps outlined in paragraph 4.5 to support employees ahead of the implementation of the Living Wage.

Officer contact: Holly Rae, 0161 474 3014, holly.rae@stockport.gov.uk

A report of the Living Wage ‘Task and Finish’ Group was submitted (copies of which had been circulated) providing the Executive Meeting with an update on progress in taking forward the Council Meeting decision of 25 April 2013 to establish an all-party group to consider the implications of the local implementation of the Living Wage. The report made a series of recommendations relating to the Living Wage for Stockport Council and school employees.

Councillors Alexander Ganotis and Syd Lloyd, members of the ‘Task and Finish’ Group, attended the meeting to present the report and recommendations. They both paid tribute to the other members of the group for their contribution, and to the officers who had supported the Group.

RESOLVED – (1) That the following measures be agreed:

·        the implementation of the Living Wage at the rate of £7.65 per hour for all Council and school employees with effect from 1 April 2014;

·        that the Living wage be paid as a supplement to employees currently paid below the rate set;

·        the Living Wage supplement be increased in line with the annual calculation produced by the Living Wage Foundation; and,

·        the steps outlined in paragraph 4.5 of the report be implemented to support employees ahead of the implementation of the Living Wage.

(2) That the gratitude of the Executive be recorded for the excellent work undertaken by councillors and officers involved in the Living Wage ‘Task and Finish Group’.