Agenda item

Purpose: 

·         To seek permission from the Executive to increase the salary range for the post of Chief Executive in accordance with the external independent advice from SEE from 1st April 2020.

·         To propose the establishment of the post of Executive Director (Place) on 1st April 2020. The Executive has already decided on the remuneration levels for the new posts of Executive Director (People) and Executive Director (Resources). Both of these posts have now been filled. The Executive is now asked to approve the establishment and remuneration level for the post of Executive Director (Place) from 1st April 2020.

·         To propose the establishment of two levels of senior management posts of Service Director and Service Lead based on external independent advice received from South East Employers (SEE).

·         The new salary scales for the post of Chief Executive and Executive Director (Place) will take effect from 1st April 2020.  The remuneration for the posts of Service Director and Service Lead will take effect on the first day of a new appointment if that is before 1st April 2020. The salary will then increase within the NJC ‘cost of living’ award on 1st April 2020.

Resolved that:

·         the current post holder be moved into the new salary scale for Chief Executive on 1st April 2020 at a scale point no less than his current salary;

·         the current Corporate Director (Economy & Environment) is moved into the new role of Executive Director (Place) on 1st April 2020 on the salary scale proposed and at a spinal column point no less than the post holder’s current salary;

·         the posts of Service Director for Adult Social Care, Environment and Strategy & Governance be established and recruited to early in 2020;

·         any Special Recruitment Payment to be applied to a Service Director post should be approved by the Head of Paid Service (Chief Executive) in conjunction with the Leader of the Council; and

·         the final decision on pay structure for the Service Lead posts should be delegated to the Head of Paid Service.

This decision is eligible to be ‘called-in’.  However, if the decision has not been ‘called-in’ by 5.00pm on 30 December 2019, then it will be implemented.

(Nick Carter and John Ashworth left the meeting at 6.10pm).

The Executive considered a report (Agenda Item 6) which sought permission to increase the salary range for the post of Chief Executive in accordance with the external independent advice from South East Employers (SEE) from 1 April 2020.

The report proposed the establishment of the post of Executive Director (Place) on 1 April 2020. The Executive had already decided on the remuneration levels for the new posts of Executive Director (People) and Executive Director (Resources). Both of these posts had been filled. The Executive was now asked to approve the establishment and remuneration level for the post of Executive Director (Place) from 1 April 2020.

The report proposed the establishment of two levels of senior management posts of Service Director and Service Lead based on external independent advice received from SEE.

The new salary scales for the post of Chief Executive and Executive Director (Place) would take effect from 1 April 2020.  The remuneration for the posts of Service Director and Service Lead would take effect on the first day of a new appointment if that was before 1 April 2020. The salary would then increase within the National Joint Council (NJC) ‘cost of living’ award on 1st April 2020.

Councillor Howard Woollaston felt that the Council had an outstanding senior management team who should be remunerated appropriately. He commended the report to the Executive. Councillor Lynne Doherty seconded the report. She raised the importance of future proofing the organisation for the years ahead.

Councillor Graham Bridgman felt it was important to reflect and act upon the independent advice given by SEE. The Chief Executive and Executive Directors needed to be paid at an appropriate level. In Councillor Bridgman’s view, the Chief Executive was currently underpaid in comparison to the market. An increased salary would need to be offered to recruit a new Chief Executive in the future.

If the proposals were approved then the Council would still be in the lower quartile for senior officer pay across the Berkshire unitary authorities and beyond.

Councillor Jeff Brooks felt it would have been useful to include in the report a comparison of the salaries paid by the Council with the salaries of other areas. Councillor Doherty explained that this was contained in the original paper to the Executive in March 2019. However, she acknowledged that it would have been useful to repeat this information.

Councillor Carolyne Culver questioned if this was the right approach to take. She felt that it sent the wrong message as the gap to the lowest paid employees was growing. Percentage increases should apply to all staff. Councillor Doherty advised that all staff had received 2% increases in each of the last two financial years.

Councillor Culver then queried the inclusion of car allowances for some senior managers. Councillor Doherty explained that this was because this formed part of the original contract and terms for some officers. It was however removed for all new employees.

RESOLVED that:

·         the current post holder be moved into the new salary scale for Chief Executive on 1st April 2020 at a scale point no less than his current salary;

·         the current Corporate Director (Economy & Environment) is moved into the new role of Executive Director (Place) on 1st April 2020 on the salary scale proposed and at a spinal column point no less than the post holder’s current salary;

·         the posts of Service Director for Adult Social Care, Environment and Strategy & Governance be established and recruited to early in 2020;

·         any Special Recruitment Payment to be applied to a Service Director post should be approved by the Head of Paid Service (Chief Executive) in conjunction with the Leader of the Council; and

·         the final decision on pay structure for the Service Lead posts should be delegated to the Head of Paid Service.

Other options considered: None – the need for this report was approved by the Executive on 28 March 2019.