Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillor Peredur Jenkins

To receive any declaration of personal interest

The following members declared a personal interest for the reasons noted:

Dilwyn Williams (Chief Executive) and Geraint Owen (Head of Corporate Support Department), in item 5 on the agenda as they were principal officers and, therefore, subject to the Pay Policy. Should there be any discussion on that matter, both would withdraw from the meeting. 

To note any items that is a matter of urgency in the view of the Chairman for consideration.

None to note

The Chairman shall propose that the minutes of the meeting of this committee held on 8.11.2017 be signed as a true record

The Chair signed the minutes of the previous meeting of this committee held on 08.11.17 as a true record.

To submit the report of the Chief Executive

The report was submitted, noting that it reported on the latest situation to all intents and that the policy itself had not been modified. Any likely changes to the policy, as a result of current discussions with unions to reach efficiency targets, would be implemented during the year. In addition, it was highlighted that national discussion had not yet been held to discuss the salaries of chief executives and principal officers. This would take place as a result of a national agreement on staff salaries, which would be likely to follow the same route as what would be agreed upon for local government employees in general.

Reference was made to the existing offer from the employer on a national basis to increase the salaries of local government employees for the next two years. Should the offer be accepted, it was noted that it was forecast that Gwynedd Council's minimum salary would be higher than the Living Wage (Living Wage Foundation) by 1 April 2019. It was explained that a small percentage of Council staff continued to receive a salary that was lower than what was recognised as a Living Wage (8.75 currently).

Reference was also made to the constructive discussions held with union representatives regarding changes to elements of the local employment conditions. It was reported that it would not be possible to hold a ballot as Unison's National Office did not allow the local branch to put forward the proposal before members in a ballot as it would lead to a deterioration in employment conditions.  Consequently, the Council had corresponded directly with every staff member who would be affected by the proposed changes for consultation purposes.

Attention was drawn to the proposed changes within the offer and it was emphasised that the contents of the Pay Policy would need to be updated later in the year to reflect any changes approved in due course.

The Head of Corporate Support Department was thanked for the presentation.

In response to a question regarding the salaries of carers who work hours during the evening and the offer to bring the additional payment for work between 8 and 10pm to an end, the Head of Corporate Support Department reported that he had held discussions with the Head of Adults, Health and Well-being Department regarding this proposed change as a cohort of care workers would be affected.

The Head of Corporate Support Department explained that the payment for working during the day up until 10pm would need to be rationalised and he accepted that it seemed that staff who worked between 8 - 10pm would be at a loss. However, he emphasised that there was a need to look at the broader picture i.e. in light of the national agreement on increasing salaries. He explained that there would be a substantially higher increase to salaries at the base of the pay structure compared with the contracts of the remainder of Council staff, namely an increase that would be higher than the 2% offered by  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.