Issue - meetings

Purpose: The Council is required, in accordance with section 38 of the Localism Act 2011, to publish an annual pay policy statement. This report seeks to secure compliance with that duty, by seeking approval of the Statutory Pay Policy Statement for publication.

Council considered a report (Agenda Item 11) concerning the Council’s Statutory Pay Policy for 2025/26.

MOTION: Proposed by Councillor Jeff Brooks and seconded by Councillor Iain Cottingham:

“That Council:

A)       Adopt and approve the Statutory Pay Policy Statement for publication.

B)       Delegate authority to the Monitoring Officer to update the pay scales highlighted in Appendix 1 of the policy to reflect any pay award agreed during 2025/26.”

Councillor Brooks introduced the report and highlighted a correction to points 4.6 and 6.1 of the report. He confirmed that the report had already been through the Personnel Committee who were satisfied for it to come to Council.

The Statutory Pay Policy was a regular annual item, and Members were assured that the Council had been through a robust exercise in its preparation and that pay was proportionate to comparative councils across the country.

Some Members noted that there was a lack of detail in the report regarding pensions, something that could help with talent acquisition. As Council agreed that more information could be provided about this, it was agreed that more information about pensions be added into future years’ reports.

Overall, as Council were satisfied with the report, they agreed to approve the recommendations.

The Motion was put to the meeting and duly RESOLVED.