Councillor Huelin, Portfolio Holder for Performance and Central Services, presented the report which sought the approval of the Council’s Annual Pay Policy Statement. That Thurrock’s statement included a pay policy for all categories of employees which reflected the existing employment terms and conditions.

Councillor Snell stated that the report had been presented through the Comprehensive Spending Review and would agree to the recommendations.

Councillor Duffin questioned why Members could not vote on recommendation 1.1 and questioned whether the Comprehensive Spending Review was a committee of Council. Councillor Duffin stated that therefore all Members should be invited to sit on the Comprehensive Spending Review.

Councillor Huelin stated that Council had voted previously to using an independent market research company to set the pay rises fairly.

Councillor Spillman questioned had any progress been made for senior managers to be on fixed term contracts to reduce any pay offs in local Government in Essex.

Councillor Huelin would seek advice on Councillor Spillman’s question and update him outside the meeting.

Councillor Hebb reiterated that the Comprehensive Spending Review was a briefing group that received papers presented by the Directors Board. That the Members of the Comprehensive Spending Review made no decisions and it was not a committee of the Council. Councillor Hebb would welcome any new Members.

Councillor Gledhill had concerns that Members could not change the report and stated that Members could seek the Chief Executive and Monitoring Officers understanding of what was required for this report.

Councillor Gledhill stated his agreement to all the recommendations and that Members should focus on the positives of the report. Councillor Gledhill stated how important it was to keep managerial staff and would not agree to fixed term contracts at Thurrock.

Councillor Coxshall supported this statement and used an example of fixed term contracts at the Thames Gateway Corporation which demonstrated the challenges of fixed term contracts for managerial staff.

Councillor Huelin summed up by thanking Members for comments and that the recommendations made sense and demonstrated that staff were valued within the Council.

At 7.23pm, Councillor James Baker left the Council Chamber.

The Mayor called a vote on the recommendations.

Upon being put to the vote, Members voted unanimously in favour of the recommendations, whereupon the Mayor declared the recommendations carried.

RESOLVED:

1.         That the Annual Pay Policy Statement 2018/19 was agreed in line with the Council’s obligations under the Localism Act 2011, the Single Status Agreement and the recommendations by the independent market assessment.

2.         That agreement to remove pay points 1 to 4, with pay point 5 becoming the lowest council pay point, set at the UK Living Wage rate of £8.75 ph from 1st April 2018.

3.         That agreement to pay apprentices the National Minimum/Living Wage appropriate to their age from the start of employment, starting at £4.20 ph for those under 18 from 1st April 2018.