Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Jon-Paul Carr (Larry Henson substituting), Jim Hakewill (Joseph Smyth substituting), Helen Howell, and Elliot Prentice (Leanne Buckingham substituting).

The Chair invited those who wished to do so to declare any interests in respect of items on the agenda.

No declarations were made.

The minutes of the meeting held on 3^rd June 2024 were approved as a correct record and duly signed by the Chair, subject to noting that Councillor Jan O’Hara had been present at the meeting.

RESOLVED that:  the Employment Committee unanimously approves the application of the 2024-25 National Pay Agreements which will uplift the salaries for North Northamptonshire Council employees on local terms and conditions by the same value as the respective national pay award noted in 4.3 of the report.

The HR Workforce Policy and Projects Specialist introduced the report (copies of which had been previously circulated at item 4 on the agenda) which sought agreement to apply the 2024/25 national local government pay award to North Northamptonshire staff on TUPE protected local terms and conditions.

The Chair introduced this item by noting that employees of North Northamptonshire Council (NNC) currently fell into the following two categories:

·         Those on nationally agreed pay terms and conditions; and

·         Those on local pay terms and conditions.

Whilst the majority of staff were now on NNC terms of employment but there were some remaining on the employment terms set by their predecessor authorities.  All staff on NNC terms and conditions would automatically receive a pay increase.

In order to treat all staff in a fair and equal manner, the recommendation was to agree the pay award being given to those on locally agreed terms and conditions.  This would be in line with the Council’s Corporate plan to be an employer of choice.

Arising from discussion, the following principal points were noted:-

      i.        Members wished to recognise the hard work put in by all staff, noting the cost of living still posed challenges to many employees and that not applying the pay increase would have a negative impact on them;

    ii.        The cost of applying the pay award to all employees including those not on North Northamptonshire Council terms and conditions had been budgeted for.

The recommendations were proposed by Councillor Tom Partridge-Underwood and seconded by Councillor Simon Rielly. 

The Committee voted unanimously in favour.

RESOLVED that: 

The Employment Committee unanimously approves the application of the 2024-25 National Pay Agreements which will uplift the salaries for North Northamptonshire Council employees on local terms and conditions by the same value as the respective national pay award noted in 4.3 of the report.