Issue - meetings

Under the local terms and conditions of employment framework, the  Committee was required to make a recommendation on staff pay awards to full Council. Pursuant to the local framework, the annual pay award review was now part of the Council’s budget planning process.  This requirement was a key driver for coming out of the national/regional pay negotiating frameworks. The Trade Union response to the Council’s proposed pay award of 3% was tabled – no other feedback from staff had been received other than two very specific queries.

Councillor Simon Jeal, on behalf of the Labour Group, proposed the following two amendments –

Amendment one:

Amend recommendation 2.1 (ii) to add the words:

[Spinal Point 12 (BR4)...] which shall be increased to an hourly rate of £13.15, in line with the London Living Wage as at 1st April 2024.

On being put to the vote, the amendment was lost.

Amendment two:

Amend recommendation 2.1(iii) to add the words "Subject to the condition that managers must have completed appraisals for at least 90% of their direct reports, in respect of the most recent appraisal year end period, to be eligible to receive a merit award. The Director of HR, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Resources and Commissioning, may waive this condition in exceptional circumstances."

On being put to the vote, this amendment was deferred to be considered as part of the report on hybrid working and appraisal.

RESOLVED that

(1) full Council be recommended to approve the following:

(i)  A flat 3% pay increase on all salary points and rates for Council staff (excluding teachers who are covered by a separate statutory pay negotiating process) for 2024/25.

(ii)  The removal of the equivalent of spinal points 9-11 (affecting grade BR3) with assimilation to equivalent of spinal point 12 (BR4).

(iii)  An increase of 3% to the Merited Rewards, for 2024/25, bringing the total to £412k for rewarding staff for exceptional performance. 

(iv)  The Trade Union pay claim for staff be rejected. 

(2)  It is noted that, as in the previous years since coming out of the nationally/regionally negotiated frameworks, Bromley staff will receive the 2024/25 pay increase in time for the April pay.