On 25 July 2023, Cabinet:-
(i) Approved a budget of up to £20m to take
account of any risks for an expedited programme to be funded from the Policy
Contingency Fund, including the establishment of a Permanent Pay Equity team
and adjacent Pay Compliance unit to ensure that the equitable pay position
achieved through the permanent pay equity programme is maintained in the future
(see appendix 4 of the report);
(ii) Noted that any scheme that is chosen must
be implemented by April 2025, to avoid the potential liability increasing
beyond the estimated range;
(iii) Noted that the decision-making body for
the methodology will be the Council Business Management Committee, with
monitoring and oversight to be provided by the Finance and Resources Overview
and Scrutiny Committee and the Audit Committee, as a regular item on their
respective work programmes;
(iv) Following the decision by Council Business
Management Committee, authorised the running of compliant procurement processes
(via either a direct award or a mini competition) under a framework agreement
or other compliant route (as more fully described in appendix 1) to appoint a
supplier or suppliers that prove(s) to be the most economically advantageous to
deliver an expedited programme. This is based on a combination of one or more
different methodologies for NJC and JNC. The supplier(s) would be providing a
programme of job evaluation, pay equity analysis, and the creation of a new pay
model in consultation with the Council and the trade unions;
(v) Delegated the award of the contract(s),
following the outcome of the compliant procurement process or processes, to the
Interim Director of People and Corporate Services in conjunction with the
Interim Director of Finance and Section 151 Officer and the City Solicitor and
Monitoring Officer;
(vi) Noted when delivered, these elements will,
on the introduction of new terms and conditions of employment, stop the current
accrual of potential equal pay liabilities; provide the Council with a
statutory defence to any future equal value claims; and maintain a pay equity
system within the Council.
THE DEADLINE FOR CALL IN IS 1600
HOURS ON MONDAY 31 JULY 2023.