Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Resources, Commissioning & Governance.

The Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Resources, Commissioning & Governance (Councillor Tom McGee) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the Council’s approach to pay policy in accordance with the requirements of Section 38 of the Localism Act 2011.

RESOLVED – That the Annual Pay Policy Statement 2021/22 and the Council’s Gender Pay Gap information be confirmed and published in accordance with the Localism Act 2011.

To consider a report of the Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Resources, Commissioning & Governance.

This Pay Policy Statement (the ‘statement’) sets out the Council’s approach to pay policy in accordance with the requirements of Section 38 of the Localism Act 2011.  The policy also has due regard for the associated statutory guidance including supplementary guidance issued in February 2013 and the Local Government Transparency code 2014. The Councils Gender Pay Gap information is also included in line with the publication requirements.

The purpose of the statement is to provide transparency with regard to the Council’s approach to setting the pay of its employees (excluding teaching staff working in local authority schools) by confirming the methods by which salaries of all employees are determined; the detail and level of remuneration of its most senior staff i.e. ‘chief officers’, as defined by the relevant legislation; the responsibility of the Appointments Committee to ensure the provisions set out in this statement relating to the Chief Executive, Deputy Chief Executive, Corporate Directors and Service Directors are applied consistently throughout the Council and recommend any amendments to the Council. The report also includes the Council Gender Pay Gap figures for 2021.

Once approved by the full Council, this policy statement will come into immediate effect and will be subject to review on a minimum of an annual basis, the policy for the next financial year being approved by 31 March each year.

The Cabinet is to recommended to endorse the Pay Policy Statement and to recommend that the Council Meeting:-

(1) Approves and adopts the Pay Policy Statement for the Council.

(2) Agrees to publish the Councils Gender Pay Gap information.

Officer contact: Jennie Neill on 0161 474 4159 or email jennie.neill@stockport.gov.uk

The Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Resources, Commissioning & Governance (Councillor Tom McGee) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the Council’s Annual Pay Policy Statement and Gender Pay Gap figures for 2021.

Councillor McGee stated that further work needed to be done with regard to the Council’s pay structure to ensure that this remained competitive with other local authorities.  The fact that the Council was seeking formal accreditation as a real living wage employer was also welcomed.

RESOLVED – That the Council Meeting be recommended to adopt the Annual Pay Policy Statement and agree to publish the Council’s Gender Pay Gap information.

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive.

The report sets out the Council’s approach to pay policy in accordance with the requirements of Section 38 of the Localism Act 2011. The statement also has due regard for the associated statutory guidance including supplementary guidance issued in February 2013 and the Local Government Transparency code 2014. The statement also incorporates the Councils Gender Pay Gap (GPG) information as the Council is now required to publish this on an annual basis under the GPG reporting requirements.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to: -

·       Approve the Pay Policy Statement for the Council prior to its adoption at the Full Council on the 31st March 2022; and

·       Agree to the publishing of the Council’s Gender Pay Gap information.

Officer contact: Jennie Neill on 0161 474 4159 or by email on jennie.neill@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director, Corporate and Support Services (Deputy Chief Executive) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which set out the Council’s approach to pay policy in accordance with the requirements of Section 38 of the Localism Act 2011. The statement had due regard for the associated statutory guidance including supplementary guidance issued in February 2013 and the Local Government Transparency code 2014. The statement also incorporated the Councils Gender Pay Gap (GPG) information as the Council was now required to publish this on an annual basis under the GPG reporting requirements.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·      Welcomed the publication of the Councils Gender Pay Gap information and inquired to whether other pay gap reporting such as ethnicity was being conducted.

·      In response it was stated that this information was already internally available and reported through HR and that the service would explore the possibility to make the information publicly available. Members were advised that the HR function was being reviewed to ensure that staff were explored at the correct level and to promote training.

·      Members enquired about the number of apprenticeships that resulted in the individual receiving a permanent position. In response it was agreed that statistics relating to apprenticeship outcomes would be shared with Members.  

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and Pay Policy Statement for the Council be endorsed.