Agenda item

Public Question Time

Questions are invited from members of the public about the work of the Cabinet.

 

Notice of any question must be given to Democratic Services by midday on Monday, 17 October 2022. Approximately 30 minutes will be set aside for Public Question Time, if required.

Minutes:

The following question was submitted in advance of the meeting by a member of the public, Judith Sheppard:

 

There was criticism when the Council decided to create extra cabinet positions by doubling up on some deputy positions, incurring additional allowances early in the pandemic. Again, at a time when there were concerns about Bury Council overspending, and during a cost of living crisis, you recently went ahead and exasperated the situation by increasing Councillors allowances. Reports in the press show that 13 Bury council bosses are paid over £100,000. There are soon to be 75 staff redundancies, will any of those be high earning executive posts? Also, to ease spending will you reduce the excessive cabinet positions?

 

Councillor Richard Gold reported that In developing the budget proposals consideration has been given to protecting services and workforce capacity as far as practicable, whilst retaining sufficient leadership to maintain direction across the diverse range of Council services and lead the scale of change that this budget reduction will require.

 

Members’ allowances are determined in accordance with the Local Authority (Members Allowances) Regulations 2003 following recommendations from an Independent Remuneration Panel.  The scheme of Members’ allowances was agreed in this context last year and is reviewed at the beginning of every municipal year. The Council’s pay policy statement, also refreshed each year, includes a review of senior pay and the ratio between highest and lowest earners.

 

The detail of posts at risk of redundancy will not be determined until the budget is approved in February. Within the proposals there is a specific recommendation to reduce the senior officer pay structure by £100 000 which builds on a £200k savings target from senior management costs already within the Council budget.  These savings will be delivered through a review of senior management roles across the organisation.

 

The following question was submitted in advance of the meeting by a member of the public, Alan Sheppard:

 

The Pay Policy Statement 2022/23 refers to the ‘lowest paid employees’, the principles of equal pay for ALL employees and a commitment to pay the Real Living Rate. lower paid council employees earn just £18,328. Your proposals, are now suggesting that those employees take ‘unpaid leave’, further reducing their annual pay. The council executive officers receive more than that in allowances: council leader £43,524, deputy £30,215 and 6 cabinet members £25,359 each. Is it right to further impact the lower paid whilst the council continue to pay such high allowances? What thought have you given to reducing the number of executive roles?

 

Councillor Richard Gold reported that The quality of terms and conditions for our lowest earnings is a key priority for Bury Council.  We are one of the very few GM authorities to pay the Real Living Wage and to meet the standards of the GM Good Employment Charter.  Whilst the lowest point of pay on the national pay spine for local government workers is £18,333, the Council already supplements this rate by 40p an hour to £19,100 as part of our Living Wage commitment.

 

Our budget proposals include a commitment to keeping pace with the real living wage, which will include a minimum rate of pay of £10.90 from April. The option of extending unpaid leave is a proposal for consultation only and will be explored with all staff, from lowest to highest earners, to determine appetite and consider the potential profile of uptake based on voluntary acceptance only.