Agenda item

To consider item 11

The HR and Advisory Manager advised Members that the pay policy was required to be updated each financial year and was being presented for approval as the 2022/23 pay policy for the Authority, effective 1 April 2022. This pay policy was based on the current 2021/22 pay policy and had been updated with minor amendments made where appropriate, as detailed with red and unlined or struck through.

Looking at specific sections of the pay policy and the pay multiples and ratio of highest to lowest pay, it continued to fall for the tenth year, which was positive, seeing this tenth year ratio improving again by 2% from the previous year and by 30% since first reporting in 2012.

The HR and Advisory Manager advised Members that apart from the yearly update to figures, the only other change within the 2022/23 pay policy was the removal of reference to the exit payment cap. In November 2020 the Restriction of Public Sector Exit Payment Regulations came into force and was detailed within the Pay Policy for 2021/22. However, in February 2021, HM Treasury published a Treasury Direction dis-applying the parts of the Regulations which implemented a £95,000 cap on public sector exit payments and the Restriction of Public Sector Exit Payment (Revocation) Regulations 2021 (the Revocation Regulations), was placed before Parliament, and came into force formally revoking the 2020 Regulations on 19 March 2021. The Revocation Regulations contained a legal obligation for employers to make termination payments to employees with an exit date in the period the Regulations applied (4 November 2020 to 11 February 2021). For the Authority there were no employees impacted by the exit payment cap.

Since the Revocation Regulations, the Government continued to discuss exit payments and the importance of delivering value for the taxpayer. It was anticipated an exit payment cap or similar would be reintroduced in some form, and the Authority would contribute to any Government consultation process as appropriate, and thereafter, await details of any Regulation changes and implementation dates. 

The Chairman asked that as London Fire Brigade were currently recruiting for firefighters, if this would have an impact on the Service.

The Deputy Chief Fire Officer advised that London Fire Brigade were recruiting and advertising widely, he also advised that London Fire Brigade pay London weighting which was 20% more that the Authority currently paid its firefighters. There was a risk to the Authority, it had been included on the risk register, and he was aware of a number of staff considering or may even have applied in that respect. It was a risk to the Authority because of the proximity to London.

RESOLVED –

1.                  That the Pay Policy Principles and Statement as set out in Appendix one as the statutory Pay Policy Statement for 2022/23 is approved for publication.

2.                  That the Authority notes the Pay Multiple ratio continues to fall for the tenth year running, with the tenth-year period seeing the ratio improved by 30 per cent since 2012.

(Councillor McLean left the meeting)