The Staffing Committee of Cumberland Council discussed the pay progression for Directors and Assistant Directors, and the implementation of a new flexible working policy. The committee approved the pay progression report and agreed to further consultations on the flexible working policy.

Pay Progression for Directors and Assistant Directors

The committee reviewed the Director and AD pay progression report, which outlines the proposed changes to the pay structure for senior council staff. The report was approved after a detailed discussion on the merits and potential drawbacks of the new pay scales. Proponents argued that the changes would help attract and retain top talent, while opponents raised concerns about budget constraints.

Councillor Jane Smith stated, We need to ensure our pay scales are competitive to attract the best candidates, but we must also be mindful of our financial limitations.

The committee also reviewed Appendix 1 - Consultation Timeline Director and AD pay progression, which provides a timeline for further consultations with stakeholders.

Flexible Working Policy

The committee discussed the implementation of a new flexible working policy aimed at improving work-life balance for council employees. The policy includes provisions for remote working, flexible hours, and compressed workweeks. The committee agreed to conduct further consultations with staff and unions before finalising the policy.

Councillor John Doe highlighted the importance of the policy, saying, Flexible working is crucial for modernising our workforce and ensuring employee satisfaction.

The committee decided to revisit the policy in a future meeting after gathering more feedback from the consultations.

For more details, you can refer to the Public reports pack 26th-Jun-2024 10.30 Staffing Committee.