Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies were received from Councillors J-P Carr, T Partridge-Underwood, J O’Hara, L Lawman, E Fedorowycz.

No Declarations of Interest were made.

The minutes of the meeting held on the 27^th October 2022 had been circulated. Under Minute 29 Pay Award 2022/23, in the third last paragraph it was noted there was a typographical error which read “…achieved in early 2013…” This should have read “…achieved in early 2023…” This was noted and agreed.

RESOLVED that: -

The minutes (as amended) of the meeting held on the 27^th October 2023 were agreed as a correct record.

To seek agreement by the Committee to apply salary increments to eligible employees on locally determined terms and conditions which were protected at the point of transfer to North Northamptonshire Council.

The report before Committee sought agreement to apply salary increments to eligible employees on locally determined terms and conditions which were protected at the point of transfer to North Northamptonshire Council.

The Council had a range of pay and terms and conditions for its employees as a result of local government reorganisation. Staff transferring to North Northamptonshire Council on 1st April 2021 transferred on the terms and conditions they were subject to at their predecessor authorities.

Whilst those employees who transferred on nationally agreed pay and terms and conditions, and those who have been appointed to NNC since 1 April 2021 would contractually receive an annual salary increment (subject to being in post for 6 months prior to 1st April 2023 and not being at the top of the corresponding grading structure), those on local terms and conditions or ‘other’ TUPE terms would not automatically receive a salary increment.

To support the Council’s ambition to become an employer of choice and ensure fairness across the organisation, it was being proposed that all eligible employees receive a salary increment as outlined in the recommendations within the report.

All predecessor authorities recognised national pay, terms and conditions, with the exception of Northamptonshire County Council, whereby pay and terms and conditions were determined locally.

Where local authorities recognised national agreements, pay was determined by a?negotiating body;?the National Joint Council (NJC) for local government services. The NJC was made up of representatives from trade unions and the employers. Under the agreed terms of NJC, employees were entitled to an annual salary increment each year.

In addition, the Council was currently in the process of developing its own pay and grading structure and had already made the commitment to recognise national pay, terms and conditions.

This meant that employees who transferred from the district and boroughs had already received their increment for this financial year as it was a contractual right. It also meant that those employees who had started with the Council and have at least 6 months in role and headroom within their grade, would also receive a salary increment.

Whist this accounted for the majority of our workforce, it did mean that ex-NCC and employees on other TUPE terms had not received an increment.

The Committee noted that due to the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (TUPE), North Northamptonshire Council had a complex workforce, with employees working on different pay, terms and conditions, depending on which authority they transferred from.

New employees appointed from 1 April 2021, and those who had moved into new roles following a restructure, had been given new NNC contracts, which included a contractual entitlement to annual increments. The second phase of this work to establish the new pay and grading structure and a full set of terms of conditions for NNC was currently underway and consultation and negotiation with our recognised Trade Unions was ongoing. Full Council will consider the finalised pay structure and terms and conditions later in 2023.

Whilst this  ...  view the full minutes text for item 35.