Agenda item

*Chief Officers withdrew from the meeting for this item only*

The Leader of Council introduced the report which sought approval of the Pay Policy Statement for 2023/2024, and for it to be publicised on the Council’s website.

It was explained that the Localism Act 2011 required that Local Authorities produce a Pay Policy Statement for each financial year; a Pay Policy Statement was first developed and approved by Neath Port Talbot Council in March 2011. The Leader highlighted that the statement was reviewed on an annual basis, and brought before Council for approval and publication prior to 31 March each year.

The circulated report contained the Pay Policy Statement for 2023/2024, which had been updated to take account of any national or local pay related developments. It was noted that the Localism Act 2011 required that the statement set out the Councils policy in regards to a range of issues relating to the pay of the workforce, particularly focusing on senior staff and how their pay related to the lowest paid within the workforce; the aim of this was to increase accountability, transparency and fairness within Local Government in Wales.

Reference was made to the Pay Multiples set out in the report; since the publication of the first Pay Policy in 2012, the gap between the lowest paid employees and the highest paid employee had reduced. It was noted that in 2012 the Chief Executive earned 11 times more than the lowest paid employee, and it had now reduced to just over seven times more; the average Chief Officer in 2012 earned 7 times more than the lowest paid employees, which had now reduced to four times more.

Members were pleased to see that over several years the gap has continued to close, and highlighted the importance of this in regards to promoting fairness within Local Government.