Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor M. Purvis.

To note the contents of the Pay Policy Statement 2025/26

Members were informed about the requirement on the County Council to prepare and publish a Pay Policy Statement.  The policy statement was reviewed annually and drafted in accordance with new or proposed legislation to ensure that it remained relevant and effective.  The policy statement applied to the 2025/26 financial year.

In answer to queries from Members, the following comments were made:-

•       With regard to the changed pay protection reference in the pay policy statement, wording had been amended (specifics removed) to accommodate any potential change following engagement with trade unions. These discussions had now concluded but only after the report for this committee had been published. The council decided not to make any change to pay protection provision at this time.

•       In light of the discussion and conclusion to the matters that resulted in no change to the pay protection policy, it was agreed that the pay policy statement should revert to its original wording to reflect current practice and to avoid any ambiguity when being considered by Council.

•       A query was raised regarding the change to wording relating to job evaluation for senior posts.  It was confirmed to the committee that the previous ordering of the document was ambiguous, and that the revised wording clarified the position to reflect actual practice.

RESOLVED that

(1)    the report be noted

(2)    the policy be amended to reflect current practice.

The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, 19 March 2025, at 2.00 pm in the Council Chamber, County Hall, Morpeth.

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 19 March 2025, at 2.00 pm.