Issue - meetings

This report introduces the draft Epsom & Ewell Borough Council Pay Policy Statement for 2025/26 and seeks approval of the Statement prior to its presentation to Full Council and subsequent publication on the Council’s website.

This Committee received a report introducing the draft Epsom & Ewell Borough Council Pay Policy Statement for 2025/26 and seeking approval of the Statement prior to its agreement by Full Council and subsequent publication on the Council’s website.

Following consideration, the Committee resolved with 6 votes for and 2 abstentions to:

(1)       Agree that the draft Pay Policy Statement for 2025/26 is referred to Full Council with this Committee’s recommendation for approval.

The Committee received a report introducing the draft Epsom & Ewell Borough Council Pay Policy Statement for 2025/26 and seeking approval of the Statement prior to its agreement by Full Council and subsequent publication on the Council’s website.

The following matters were considered:

a)             Members allowances. In response to a question from a Member, the Head of Legal and Monitoring Officer informed the Committee that in accordance with the Scheme of Allowances, Councillors’ allowances would be increased by 2% from April 2025.

b)             Council agreement. In response to a question from a Member, the Head of Legal and Monitoring Officer informed the Committee that as there would not be a meeting of the Full Council before 1 April 2025, the 2025/26 Pay Policy Statement would require agreement via the Council’s urgent decisions process. The Committee was informed that the 2026/27 Pay Policy Statement would be presented to the committee in January 2026 prior to Full Council consideration in February 2026.

c)             Gender Pay Gap. In response to a question from a Member, the Head of People and OD informed the Committee that if the Chief Executive and Directors were excluded from the calculation, the Council would have a gender pay gap of -3.6% rather than -5.8%, which was still favourable for women.

d)             Real Living wage. In response to a question from a Member, the Head of People and OD informed the Committee that the top of the Council’s lowest pay scale met the level of the Real Living Wage.

Following consideration, the Committee resolved with 6 votes for and 2 abstentions to:

(1)       Agree that the draft Pay Policy Statement for 2025/26 is referred to Full Council with this Committee’s recommendation for approval.