Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Scott Brown, Cllr Jon-Paul Carr and Cllr Jonathan Ekins.

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 26 January 2022 were approved as a correct record.

The Assistant Director for Human Resources presented to the Committee a report containing a summary of staff terms and conditions at North Northamptonshire Council, and which sought agreement to apply a pay uplift to staff subject to local terms and conditions agreed by predecessor authorities. The report was marked as ‘item 4’ on the agenda.

The Assistant Director drew the attention of members to a minor error in the report, confirming that in paragraph 4.4 should not have referenced e) the Joint negotiating Committee for Craft Workers via the “Red book”, as this was not recognised by the Council.

Members noted that as a result of local government reorganisation the Council had a range of pay and terms and conditions for its employees. All of the predecessor authorities apart from Northamptonshire County Council were signed up to national pay, terms and conditions.

The proposal to provide the same pay award to those employees subject to local terms and conditions as those benefiting from national pay agreements was welcomed by members, who stressed the importance of the Council being an employer of choice and treating employees in an equal way.

Resolved:-

That the Employment Committee:

Approves the application of the 2021-22 National Pay Agreements which will uplift the pay bands for North Northamptonshire Council employees on local terms and conditions to the same value as the respective national pay award, as noted in paragraph 4.10 of the report.

(Reasons for the recommendations –

a)    Following local government reorganisation, employees were transferred under TUPE from predecessor authorities to North Northamptonshire Council on the pay, terms and conditions applicable to them on 31st March 2021. Whilst the majority of our workforce (employees from the D&B’s) are on nationally agreed pay, terms and conditions, some are subject to local terms and conditions and do not therefore automatically receive a pay award.

b)    The pay award helps the Council attract and retain staff in recognition of their ongoing hard work and dedication in supporting the delivery of council services.

c)    The decision supports the Council’s corporate aim to become an employer of choice.)

(Alternative options considered – The Council could only pay employees who are contractually entitled to the pay uplift, however the impact on the organisation and the Council’s ability to recruit and retain talent would likely be hampered by this decision. Such a decision would not accord with the Council Corporate Plan, which was approved by full Council.)

The Chair confirmed there were no urgent items for consideration.

The Chair confirmed there were no exempt items for consideration.

There being no further items of business, the Chair thanked members and officers for their attendance, and closed the meeting.