Issue - meetings

To consider the staff pay award for 2022/23, as recommended by the Corporate Policy and Resources Committee.

Council considered a report that sought approval of the 2022/23 pay award.

It was proposed by Councillor L Nichols and seconded by Councillor J Sexton and resolved to agree the staff pay award for 2022/23, as follows:

2% to all scale points including personal salaries and apprentices and an additional 0.5% for scales 1 to 5 inclusive, as recommended by the Corporate Policy and Resources Committee.

To consider the staff pay award for 2022/23.

The continuing recruitment and retention pressures, particularly for professional and management roles, were highlighted.  The conflation of lower pay scales, following previous enhanced pay awards for these grades, was also contributing to recruitment challenges.  This was because postholders with more responsibility were receiving minimal additional pay in comparison to those they were responsible for.

The possibility of providing an enhanced pay offer to staff on scales 1 - 5 was discussed.  The additional cost of this was expected to be around £32k.

It was noted that as Spelthorne had opted to withdraw from national pay negotiations, a further review of pay may be necessary when the result of national discussions was known.  This was to ensure that Spelthorne was as competitive as possible with staff pay, particularly because of its proximity to better paying authorities.

The Committee recommended that a 2% pay award for all staff (including personal salaries and apprenticeships) be approved by Council on 24 February 2022.

The Committee recommended that a further 0.5% pay award for staff on scales 1-5 be approved by Council on 24 February 2022, at an additional estimated cost of approximately  £33,000 (funding for which was to be provided through adjustments to the proposed fees and charges).