Issue - meetings

Report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services.

The Council considered the report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services in relation to the Pay Policy as required by the Localism Act 2011.

A Supplementary Agenda had been circulated detailing amended recommendations arising from the recent Pay and Grading Committee held on 13 January 2021.

It was moved by Councillor Lappin, seconded by Councillor Maher that:

 (i)      The proposed Pay Policy at Annex A to the report be approved;

(ii)       That any changes to the Pay Policy as required because of legislation be delegated to the Pay and Grading Committee;

(iii)      Any further discretionary waiver in connection with the termination payments as detailed in this report be considered by the Pay and Grading Committee to provide a recommendation for consideration by  Full Council; and

(iv)     in the event of a future Labour Government the Council be recommended to write to the Government requesting that the Restriction of Public Sector Exit Payments Regulations 2020 be repealed.

An amendment was moved by Councillor Shaw, seconded by Councillor Lewis that the recommendations be amended by:

deleting recommendation:

(iv)      in the event of a future Labour Government the Council be recommended to write to the Government requesting that the Restriction of Public Sector Exit Payments Regulations 2020 be repealed;

and adding the following recommendation (iv):

iv)       recognising that the £95,000 cap on exit payments introduced by the Restriction of Public Sector Exit Payments Regulations 2020 can potentially affect long-serving employees on relatively modest salaries (particularly due to indirect pension fund "strain" payments), Council agrees to write to the present Government calling for a review of the 2020 Regulations in order to address that anomaly, whilst also retaining the cap for high paid employees, particularly recognising that there have been two instances in the last five years where exit payments agreed by Sefton Council have exceeded £250,000.

Following debate on the amendment the Chief Legal and Democratic Officer officiated a vote and the Mayor declared the amendment was lost by 18 votes to 41

An amendment had been submitted by Councillor Watson and was withdrawn by Councillor Watson at the meeting.

The Chief Legal and Democratic Officer officiated a vote on the Substantive Motion and the Mayor declared the Substantive Motion was carried by 53 votes to 4 with 2 abstentions and it was:

RESOLVED: That: 

(i)       The proposed Pay Policy at Annex A to the report be approved;

(ii)       That any changes to the Pay Policy as required because of legislation bee delegated to the Pay and Grading Committee;

(iii)      Any further discretionary waiver in connection with the termination payments as detailed in this report be considered by the Pay and Grading Committee to provide a recommendation for consideration by  Full Council; and

(iv)     in the event of a future Labour Government the Council be recommended to write to the Government requesting that the Restriction of Public Sector Exit Payments Regulations 2020 be repealed.

Report of Head of Corporate Resources

The Committee considered the report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services that recommended a Pay Policy for the Council as required by the Localism Act 2011. After consideration of the report by the Committee, the report would be considered by the full Council at the meeting to be held on 21 January 2021.

The Chief Personnel Officer advised members that there were no substantive changes to the Policy compared to that approved in 2020 but he reported on changes in legislation, changes that may occur in respect of pension matters as a result (with some ongoing current uncertainty) and additionally the implications of an ongoing Judicial Review. In order to comply with the Localism Act 2011 and to comply with the current position under the Restriction of Public Sector Exit Payments Regulations 2020, should that be approved, he would be recommending the following to the Council on 21 January 2021:-

(i)       The proposed Pay Policy at Annex A to this report be approved;

(ii)       That any changes to the Pay Policy as required because of legislation are delegated to the Pay and Grading Committee;

(iii)      Any further discretionary waiver in connection with the termination payments as detailed in this report be considered by the Pay and Grading Committee to provide a recommendation before matters go to Full Council

A Member expressed concern at the effects of the proposed legislation on employees who were not considered to be high earners and proposed the following amendment:

That in the event of a future Labour Government the Council be recommended to write to the Government requesting that the Restriction of Public Sector Exit Payments Regulations 2020 be repealed.

On it being put to the vote the Chair declared the amendment carried and it was

RESOLVED: That

(1)           the Council be recommended to approve the proposed Pay Policy as detailed within Annexe A of the report; and

(2)           in the event of a future Labour Government the Council be recommended to write to the Government requesting that the Restriction of Public Sector Exit Payments Regulations 2020 be repealed.

(3)           in accordance with Rule 96 of the Council and Committee Procedure Rules of the Constitution, the dissent of Councillor Sir Ron Watson from the decision set out above be recorded.