Issue - meetings

This report provides an overview of the proposed new Pay & Performance scheme for Epsom & Ewell Borough Council to be implemented in April 2018.

The Committee:

(1)          Approved and adopted the proposed new Pay & Performance scheme set out in Annexe 4 for implementation from April 2018;

(2)          Agreed that the proposed new Pay & Performance scheme be phased in over two financial years as follows:

a)            No cost of living increase across the board or performance pay to be made in 2018/19 and

b)            the Bonus A scheme be discontinued from the end of 2017/18 financial year;

Annual Progression on a 9 point scale be introduced in 2018/19 with assimilation from 20 Market Anchors to 12 Market Anchors;

c)            All employees on SCP 9 be awarded a one off 1% (consolidated) plus a one off 1% non-consolidated payment in April 2018;

d)            1% be paid across the board to all employees in 2019/20 (an increase from the proposed 0.5%)

(3)          the National Joint Council (NJC), Local Government Single Status job evaluation scheme (Green Book) be adopted.

(4)          the additional £64k for 2018/19 and £78k for 2019/20 to be found from within existing budgets

Note: Councillor Hannah Dalton in the Chair

The Committee received and considered a report that provided an overview of the proposed new Pay and Performance Scheme for the Council and which set out the recommendations of the Human Resources Panel in relation to the new scheme.

It was noted that the Panel had taken into consideration feedback from a staff survey and consultation undertaken by the Staff Consultative Group.  Whilst recognising the financial constraints on the Council, the Panel recommended an improved settlement of 1%, rather than 0.5%, to be paid across the board to all employees in 2019/20.

The report highlighted that the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) submitted to Council in February 2017 had included provision of £182k for an increase in the pay bill for 2018/19. A similar amount had been included for 2019/20.

The proposed settlement for 2018/19 was likely to cost £246k – an increase in the expected cost of pay of £64k and  the report highlighted that, if approved, the additional cost of the proposed new scheme would need to be found from additional savings or income incorporated into the 2018/19 budget.

The proposed settlement for 2019/20 was expected to cost £260k. This was also in excess of that anticipated within the MTFS (£78k) and would again need to be found from within existing budgets or from additional income.

Accordingly, the Committee:

(1)          Approved and adopted the proposed new Pay & Performance scheme set out in Annexe 4 for implementation from April 2018;

(2)          Agreed that the proposed new Pay & Performance scheme be phased in over two financial years as follows:

a)            No cost of living increase across the board or performance pay to be made in 2018/19 and

b)            the Bonus A scheme be discontinued from the end of 2017/18 financial year;

c)            Annual Progression on a 9 point scale be introduced in 2018/19 with assimilation from 20 Market Anchors to 12 Market Anchors;

d)            All employees on SCP 9 be awarded a one off 1% (consolidated) plus a one off 1% non-consolidated payment in April 2018;

e)            1% be paid across the board to all employees in 2019/20 (an increase from the proposed 0.5%)

(3)          the National Joint Council (NJC), Local Government Single Status job evaluation scheme (Green Book) be adopted.

(4)               the additional £64k for 2018/19 and £78k for 2019/20 to be found from within existing budgets