Agenda item - Notices of Motion

(a)            Fair Pay for Council Staff

12.1       The Notice of Motion as detailed in the agenda was proposed by Councillor Mitchell and seconded by Councillor Turton.

12.2       The Mayor then put the following Notice of Motion to the vote:

“This council values its staff and recognises their contribution to the delivery of good quality public services that have improved the city’s neighbourhoods and helped individuals.

It believes that local government workers deserve a fair wage that is at least comparable to other public sector staff.

To this end, this council calls upon the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and the Local Government Association to re-open negotiations with the staff unions in order to reach a fair and just pay settlement that reflects current inflationary trends.”

12.3       The motion was carried.

(b)            Local Government pay settlement, support for Trade Unions

12.4       The Notice of Motion as detailed in the agenda was proposed by Councillor Taylor and seconded by Councillor Fryer.

12.5       The Mayor then put the following Notice of Motion to the vote:

“This Council notes the formal pay dispute between local government employers and employees.

The employee’s umbrella organisation, the National Joint Local Council for Local Government Services (NJC) negotiates on behalf of members of both the Unison and Unite Trade Unions, while the employers are represented by Local Government Employers (LGE). The employees have asked for a 6% settlement, or 50p per hour (whichever is the  greater), while LGE has offered 2.45%

This Council further notes;

·             the Retail Price Index is currently increasing at 4.3%, pa

·             that, with the 2.45% increase applied (with an additional £100 for the 230,000 Unison members on the bottom 3 pay grades) the new bottom rate for Brighton & Hove Council staff will be £6.20 per hour - just 40p above the national minimum wage (from Oct 2008)

·             This Council is one of the city's largest employer and therefore plays a crucial role in the local economy

·             Brighton and Hove has some of the highest accommodation and living costs in the country, yet some of the lowest wages

·             In reflection of its concern over low rates of pay its meeting of April 24, 2008 this Council resolved to support the raising of the national minimum wage to £7 per hour.

This Council believes the NJC's claim of 6% wage increase is just and fair and represents an appropriate recompense for the high standard of professional work undertaken by our staff.

Therefore this Council resolves to instruct the Chief Executive to write to Sec of State for Communities and Local Government, Hazel Blears and Sir Steve Bullock, Chair of the Local Government Association's Human Resources Panel calling for

1.     Negotiations to be reopened and an improved offer made;

2.     A commitment from central government to fund an improved offer through an additional settlement to local authorities.”

12.6       The motion was lost.

Note:  Following the conclusion of the debate and decisions on the two Notices of Motion, Members of the Labour Group, Green Group and Liberal Democrat Group left the meeting.  The Mayor then reverted back to the order of the agenda.

(c)            Ballot as a Means of Consultation

12.7       The Mayor noted that Councillor Duncan was not present and in the absence of any other Member wishing to move the motion, in accordance with Procedural Rule 8.6 the motion would be deemed to have been postponed.