Apologies for absence were received from Councillors K.M. Field and A.K. Jeeawon.

To receive any disclosures by Members of disclosable pecuniary interests / other registerable interests / non-registerable interests in matters on the agenda and the nature of any interest and details of any dispensations obtained.  Members are reminded of the need to repeat their declaration immediately prior to the commencement of the item in question.

There were no declarations of interest made or dispensations noted.

The following item includes material which is exempt from publication by virtue of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended, and it is recommended that the press and public be excluded.  The relevant paragraph of Schedule 12A indicating the nature of the exempt information is stated after the item and is reproduced in full at the end of the agenda.  In all the circumstances of each case, it is considered that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

RESOLVED: That the press and public be excluded whilst matters containing exempt information, as prescribed by Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended and relating to Minute CB23/82 was under consideration. The report submitted in connection with this item and which contained information exempt from publication by virtue of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act shall remain confidential if and so long as, in all the circumstances of each case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Consideration was given to the confidential report of the Chief Executive and Interim People Programme Manager, which outlined the revised pay offer for 2023/24 made to UNISON on 6 March 2024, for Cabinet’s approval. The current dispute had arisen following the HR Committee’s decision on 30 August 2023 to confirm a final pay offer of 3% with effect from September 2023. 

Cabinet was asked to approve the final offer made to UNISON on 6 March 2024, detailed at paragraph 18 in the report.

After some discussion, Cabinet agreed the recommendations proposed and thanked officers for their work in the negotiations, highlighting that Cabinet recognised the workforce was the organisation’s greatest asset. A more strategic approach to pay awards and a review of the pay structure would be taken moving forward, engaging with staff on a People Strategy.

RESOLVED: That the recommendations be approved as submitted.

(This matter was considered exempt from publication by virtue of paragraph 4 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended).

(The Chair of Council had agreed that this decision could be taken as a matter of urgency to enable the Council to resolve the current pay dispute as soon as possible).

(The Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee had agreed that this key decision which had not been included on the Cabinet’s Forward Plan of Key Decisions could be taken at this meeting in accordance with Access to Information Rule 15 (Key-Decisions - Special Urgency).