Following an employee survey, roadshow events and ongoing discussions with Trade Unions about our workforce package, Council has agreed that a formal offer on a proposed package can be issued to Trade Unions.
Our aim is to have a modern and attractive package for employees. The proposed package includes changes to the pay structure and terms and conditions of employment for a forward-thinking Council of the Future. This is a significant investment in our workforce and represents and recognises the changing ways in which we work.
Changes to the pay structure
This will consolidate the Living Wage and ensure a salary differential for grades A – C (currently all paid at the same Living Wage rate). The new pay structure also provides incremental progression within grades B and C. The proposed pay structure comes at a cost of c£1.9m over 5 years, but helps to improve our workforce package, particularly for the lowest paid.
Changes to terms and conditions
Consideration has been given to increased mobile and flexible working arrangements and digital developments and the difference they have made to working practices. The proposed changes include:
- Removal of some allowances: excess travel, relocation expenses, subsistence, overnight and telephone allowances and long service payments
- Office closure between Christmas and New Year (excluding some frontline services) which would be covered by annual leave
- We will also survey employees to agree the dates of public holidays for 2023 onwards
These changes offer savings of c£70k.
So what happens next?
The formal offer has now been issued to Trade Unions who will ballot their members on the proposed changes. If the ballot supports the changes, arrangements will be made for a collective agreement on both the pay structure and terms and conditions to be signed. Changes to the pay structure would be backdated to 1st April 2021 with terms and conditions changes effective from the month after the signing of a collective agreement.
The Workforce Package is part of Fit for the Future, one of 23 Council of the Future projects that aim to modernise and improve services and help deliver on the three new corporate priorities – Communities, Enterprise and, Innovation.