Agenda and minutes

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held 6 October 2023.

The minutes of the meeting held 6 October 2023 were approved and signed.

To provide Employment Committee with an updated market supplement scheme to

review and agree for new and existing staff in the planning team following discussion

and direction from Members at the Employment Committee on 6^th October.

The Appendix to this report comprises exempt information – to exclude the public

(including the press) from a meeting of a committee it is necessary for the following

proposition to be moved and adopted: “that the public be excluded from the meeting

for Items which would involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined

in the paragraphs 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as

amended) as indicated.”

Members considered the Planning Team Recruitment and Retention – Market Supplement report presented by Peter Catchpole.

Members made comments, asked questions, and received responses as follows:

·         Councillor Nawaz said that having read the report his reservations from the previous meeting have been answered and he was pleased to note a comparative cost analysis has been conducted and included within the report, the detail of which is to be commended. Referring to page 9 of the report, he asked why it mentions Fenland District Council and local district council and what the difference is between the two because there is a corresponding difference between the two salaries. He also asked what effect this market supplement has had on employees who do not work in Planning.

·         Peter Catchpole responded that the report uses the generic term rather than naming neighbouring councils individually because of confidentiality. Nick Harding added that it is not appropriate to name them openly in the report, but each local authority goes though a job evaluation process, which is the salary range indicated in the report. The job evaluation process does not consider issues of staff shortages or retention.

·         Peter Catchpole added that the report shows the wide range of salaries, which offers flexibility. The top of FDC’s range is not completely out of kilter but there is no comparing apples with pears, no two jobs are the same and each have different demands. He believes the market supplement is pitched at the right level, but time will tell if people are attracted to the roles. The work here has not been hidden, the Planning team has the most significant recruitment problems and there has been no negative or unfavourable response from other staff within the Council. 

·         Councillor Benney said the principal has been debated, the Council has a problem that needs to be put right and any separate pay issues can be dealt with as they come along. However, if the Council wants to recruit quality staff, they must be paid for. This is an investment which will help FDC’s aspirations. He thinks this is a good report and time will tell if it resolves the problems or not, but ultimately this is about staff retention not a golden hello.

·         Councillor Clark pointed out that as a former employer he knew the importance of creating a good working environment where staff felt valued and worked well as a team which increased job satisfaction. Just as an observation, noting there are eleven vacancies in Planning, he wondered if the Council is a happy place to work. He agreed with Councillor Benney but does not think £5k will be the magic bullet that cures all problems; the offer being made now was made by Norfolk 12-18 months ago. What concerns him is that other teams are not reacting. With all the difficulties that some authorities have found themselves in over equal pay, he is concerned that there could be repercussions with some staff in other areas claiming unfair pay.

·         Peter  ...  view the full minutes text for item EC15/23