To invite the Council to consider the recommendations submitted by the Human Resources & Council Tax Committee in relation to the draft Pay Policy for 2026/27.

The Chief Executive, the Corporate Director (Law and Governance) and the Corporate Director (Finance and IT) each declared an Interest and left the meeting whilst Council considered this matter and reached its decision thereon.

It was reported that, at its meeting held on 2 March 2026 (Minute 25 referred), the Human Resources & Council Tax Committee had considered a report of the Assistant Director of People (A.3), which had sought the Committee’s endorsement of the draft Pay Policy Statement 2026/27.

The Committee had been reminded that Sections 38 and 39 of the Localism Act 2011 (Chapter 8 – Pay Accountability) required the Council to prepare and publish a Pay Policy Statement that set out the Council’s approach to a range of matters relating to the pay of its workforce.

Members had been advised that Schedule 2 of Part 3 of the Constitution confirmed that Full Council was responsible for the preparation and approval of a Pay Policy Statement for the forthcoming financial year, in accordance with the requirements of the Localism Act 2011. Officers had explained to the Human Resources & Council Tax Committee that they had historically overseen the preparation of the draft Statement and had recommended it to Full Council for approval and adoption.

Members had been also reminded that the statutory Pay Policy Statement must include the following matters:

•    The Council’s policy on the level and elements of remuneration for each Chief Officer.

•    The Council’s policy on the remuneration of its lowest paid employees, including the definition of “lowest paid employees” and the reasons for adopting that definition.

•    The Council’s policy on the relationship between the remuneration of Chief Officers and other employees.

•    The Council’s policy on other aspects of Chief Officer remuneration, including remuneration on recruitment, increases and additions to remuneration, performance related pay, bonuses, termination payments and transparency.

The Committee had noted that the draft Pay Policy Statement 2026/27 had incorporated a number of updates to ensure continued compliance, transparency and alignment with national frameworks. The main changes had reflected revised national pay arrangements, updated statutory reporting requirements and associated workforce policies. Those had included:

•    Implementation of the nationally agreed 2025/26 NJC pay award, including the removal of Spinal Column Point 2 from 1 April 2026, in line with changes to the national pay spine.

•    Updated pay multiple calculations to reflect the revised lowest paid spinal point and the associated forecast pay multiple for 2026/27.

•    Updated gender pay gap figures and narrative in accordance with the latest statutory reporting period.

•    Confirmation of the Council’s continued use of Essex County Council’s Managed Service Solution framework for temporary staffing, supporting consistent and compliant off payroll engagement.

The Committee had been further advised that, in the interests of transparency, all amendments had been shown in red within the draft Statement.

Officers had confirmed that the Committee was requested to review and provide comments on the draft Pay Policy Statement 2026/27 prior to its submission to Full Council.

The Committee had “RESOLVED that the draft Pay Policy Statement 2026/27, as set out in the Appendix to the Officer report (A.3), be recommended onto Full Council for its formal approval and adoption.”

A copy of the published report of the Assistant Director – People (and its appendices) as presented to the Human Resources & Council Tax Committee at its meeting on 2 March 2026 was attached to the reference report (A.3).

Having reviewed the reference report from the Human Resources & Council Tax Committee (A.3):-

It was moved by Councillor Chapman BEM, seconded by Councillor Guglielmi and:-

RESOLVED that the draft Pay Policy Statement for 2026/27, as detailed in Appendix 2 to the reference report (A.3), be approved and formally adopted in accordance with the Authority’s statutory obligations.