Issue - meetings

To receive a report regarding changes to National Joint Conditions Pay Spinal Points.

The Board was updated on changes to National Joint Conditions Pay Spinal Points.  The Local Government or National Joint Council (NJC) pay scale would change from 1^st April 2019 onwards.  This would involve new Spinal Column Points (SCPs) with employees moving across from their current SCP to a new SCP which would be numbered differently. 

During the discussion of this item the following points were made:

·         The Council needed to make a decision whether to assimilate from the existing SCP to the new SCP and then give an increment, or whether to give an increment before assimilating. 

·         Sarah Swindley outlined the different options.  Option B to increment and then assimilate was the preferred option.  Sarah explained that the cost to the Council (Council employees excluding schools) would be the same as if the new spines had not been introduced.  Option A (assimilate and then increment) would save the Council money, however it was likely to cause discontent amongst employees and lead to feelings that the ‘goalposts’ had been moved.  Although Option B would cost the council £32,647 more than Option A, this was also the figure that had been anticipated and budgeted for prior to the new SCPs being introduced.

·         It was noted that additional SCPs had been added to the new pay scale.  New SCP 18, did not fit neatly into the existing grades and sat between current Grades 5 and 6.  Current SCP 25 was the top of Grade 5, which mapped across to new SCP 17.  Current SCP 26 was the bottom of Grade 6 and this mapped across to new SCP 19.

·         Members agreed that SCP18 be incorporated into Grade 6.  Any new starters at Grade 6 for 2019/20 would start at a full time salary of £24,313 (new SCP 18) rather than £24,799 (new SCP 19).  They would require an additional year to reach the top of the grade.  The incorporation of SCP18 into Grade 6 would not affect any existing employees who would already be on a minimum of the new SCP 19.  

RESOLVED:  That

1)         the proposal to Increment then Assimilate be supported;

2)         the incorporation of SCP18 into Grade 6 be supported.