The Chief Officers' Employment Panel of Harrow Council met on Monday 2 March 2015 to discuss senior management pay scales and the remuneration package for the Director of Legal and Governance Services. The panel approved revised senior management pay scales and a change to the remuneration for the Director of Legal and Governance Services, subject to Cabinet approval. The meeting also addressed severance payments of £100,000 or greater, with approvals granted for two individual cases.

Senior Management Pay Scales

The panel approved revised senior management pay scales, which will be implemented from 1 March 2015. These changes aim to provide greater consistency in pay ranges for senior management grades and are intended to be implemented ahead of a planned senior management review. Councillor David Perry, Chair of the Panel, stated that the administration was clear that the review was intended to reduce the senior management pay bill. Concerns were raised by some members regarding transparency and the potential impact of the proposed changes on the overall senior management pay bill, particularly in light of the forthcoming senior management review. However, the Divisional Director of Human Resources and Shared Services confirmed that market factor supplements¹ are not used to address grading issues and that no Corporate Directors were currently in receipt of such supplements.

Remuneration Package of £100,000 or Greater

Approval was given for a change to the role profile and remuneration for the Director of Legal and Governance Services. This decision was based on a job evaluation that had been independently reviewed and reflects the expanded duties and responsibilities of the post holder, including their leadership of the shared legal service, HB Public Law, and its expansion to incorporate Hounslow's legal practice. The change in grade for this post is expected to result in an increased pay cost of £17.5k, which is anticipated to be offset by income generated from running another authority's legal practice. This decision is subject to Cabinet approval of the expansion of the legal practice.

Severance Payments of £100,000 or Greater

The panel considered confidential reports regarding severance payments of £100,000 or greater. Approvals were granted for contractual and statutory payments to two employees who were proposed for redundancy. During the discussion of the second severance payment, members expressed appreciation for the work of the staff being made redundant, with one member noting concern about the loss of experienced staff and the need to balance staff reductions with retaining essential experience. The Chair acknowledged these sentiments.