Issue - meetings

The HR Business Partner presented the report to the Committee.

The Council's Pay Agreement (the ‘Agreement’) had remained unchanged for several years, resulting in outdated provisions that no longer aligned with current organisational structures and workforce practices.

The Chief Executive and Senior Leadership Team had agreed to revise the Agreement following staff feedback – staff had identified it was out of date with a need to also enhance overtime limits.

The HR and Payroll Team had been established in 2022.  The Agreement had been last updated in 2016.

The revised Agreement was attached at Appendix 1.

One major change was the overtime provision.  This had been capped at Grade 6, but disincentivised staff from working beyond their hours when required. 

Overtime pay would now be capped at Grade 7 to ensure employees at this higher pay grade would be motivated to carry on working into unsociable and / or uncontracted hours.

The Agreement also updated terminology and post titles.  The required frequency of updates to the Agreement would also be changed to make the document sustainable.

The revised agreement included track changes to ensure easier viewing of the proposed changes, including all adjustments to terminology.

The Strategic Director of Services noted Streetscene and transport workers on Grade 7 were currently not incentivised to work around bank holiday periods (e.g., during the winter holiday) when some frontline services continued to operate.  The new overtime provision would likely persuade employees to work these extra hours and ensure continuity of Council services.

To a question on the time-specificity of the Agreement, the HR Business Partner explained adding specific rates of pay and pay levels dated the document (e.g., the Tool Allowance (Mechanics) quoted the 2010/11 pay rate).  Including time specific content was best avoided.

To a question on how many times the Agreement had been previously reviewed, the HR Business Partner informed there had been one in 2009, but with austerity measures in the 2010s there had been few updates to pay agreements and so the Agreement, along with the pay rates, Officer titles, etc., needed substantial updating.

A UNISON representative welcomed the updated Agreement – it was long overdue.  The updates to the useful contact numbers listed in the document were also welcome.

It was added that, with the recent staff survey and the establishment of a working group to review the survey’s results, the Agreement could likely change further.  To a question on if any further updates to the Agreement would be brought before the Committee, the HR Business Partner confirmed any material changes would be brought back before the Committee.

Moved by Councillor Duncan Haywood and seconded by Violet Parker (UNISON)

RESOVLED that the Committee approve the Council’s revised Pay Agreement.

Approved by Councillor Moesby, Portfolio Holder for Resources