Issue - meetings

This report introduces the draft Epsom & Ewell Borough Council Pay Policy Statement for 2024/25 and seeks approval of the Statement prior to its presentation to Full Council and subsequent publication on the Council’s website.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)      Approve the draft Pay Policy Statement for 2024/25.

(2)      Agree that the draft Pay Policy Statement for 2024/25 is referred to Full Council for approval.

The Committee received a report introducing the draft Epsom & Ewell Borough Council Pay Policy Statement for 2024/25 and seeking approval of the Statement prior to its presentation to Full Council and subsequent publication on the Council’s website.

The following matters were considered:

a)            Increase to national minimum wage. In response to a question from a member, the Head of People and Organisational Development informed the Committee that the increase to the national minimum wage in April 2024 would affect very few of the Council’s staff but that work to implement it would be undertaken prior to April.

b)            Chief Officer loss of office. In response to a question from a member, the Head of People and Organisational Development informed the Committee that in the instance of Chief Officer loss of service, each situation would be considered on an individual basis relevant to the circumstances. The Pay Policy Statement set out a consistent method for determining payment in cases of redundancy and the Council’s Pension Scheme Discretions Policy would be applied in other situations according to the individual situation.

c)            Returning redundancy payment. In response to a question from a member, the Head of People and Organisational Development confirmed that if an employee is required to return a redundancy payment to the Council  due to leaving the Council’s employment and subsequently returning within 4 weeks, their continuous service would be maintained unbroken.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)      Approve the draft Pay Policy Statement for 2024/25.

(2)      Agree that the draft Pay Policy Statement for 2024/25 is referred to Full Council for approval.

Following consideration of this item, the Chair informed the Committee that the Head of People and Organisational Development was due to leave the council’s employment imminently to take up a position elsewhere. The Committee expressed its gratitude to the Head of People and Organisational Development for her work on behalf of the Council and wished her well in her new role.