Policy & Resources Cabinet Member – Minutes – 12 September 2014

148      (21)  NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE 2014 The Director of Policy and Resources submitted a report which sought approval to increase Spinal Column Point (Scp) 5 on an interim basis in line with the National Minimum Wage (NMW) increase with effect from 1 October 2014.

The bottom point of the council’s current pay scale was Scp 5. The annual salary was £12,435 per annum, which equated to £6.45 per hour. 

In order to comply with the requirements of the NMW, the council needed to pay all employees on Scp 5 an increased rate of £6.50 per hour, until such time a pay award be agreed and implemented.

An urgent decision was required to enable the necessary changes to be implemented from 1 October 2014, for all employees concerned.

Resolved – That option one outlined within the report be approved.  

149      (22)  NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE IMPLICATIONS FOR APPRENTICESThe Director of Policy and Resources submitted a report which sought approval to make amendments to the council’s pay rates for apprentices to ensure continued compliance with National Minimum Wage (NMW) requirements.

The council was obliged to increase the pay of those apprentices where the NMW dictated this. The decision was taken to increase the hourly rate for the first year of apprenticeship from the required minimum wage of £2.73 per hour to £3.00 per hour.

The new rates were as follows:

·   First year of apprenticeship –

      £3.00 per hour

·   Subsequent years (subject to satisfactory progress with their qualification)

      £5.13 per hour (if 19-20)

      £6.50 per hour (if 21 or over)

An urgent decision was required to enable the necessary changes to be implemented from 1 October 2014, for all employees concerned.

Resolved – (a) That option one outlined within the report be approved and adopted, and (b) that the pay policy be amended in accordance with the rate.

150      (23) COUNCIL TAX FLOOD DISCOUNTThe Director of Policy and Resources submitted a report which sought to determine whether the duration of the local council tax discount granted to those households affected by December 2013 floods be extended. 

Taxpayers whose homes had been flooded and they had either vacated their properties or continued to occupy the habitable portion of their homes whilst repairs were undertaken were entitled to 100% local discount for nine months.  An urgent decision was required as the discount period ended on 4 September 2014 and those taxpayers who still qualified would become liable to pay council tax after this date.

The powers under Section 13a of The Local Government Act 1992 allowed the Council to introduce a local discount for particular circumstances or by category of property. The Council used this power and replaced the Section 11a discounts and allowance with a 100% Section 13a discount for nine months. The Section 11a discount and allowance remained available and would come into force for a further three months once the Section 13a discount period ended.

The council tax discount had been awarded in respect of 198 properties. Most properties were fully occupied but there remained 50 dwellings still entitled to a discount, 35 properties remained unoccupied and 15 were partly occupied.

It was proposed that the Section 13a discount be extended for a further six months, at 100% for the first three months and at 50% from 5 December 2014 to 4 March 2015.

Resolved – That the extension of the council tax discount as out outlined in paragraph 3.2 of the report be approved.

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