The Richmond and Wandsworth Joint Staffing Committee met on Monday 19 February 2018 to discuss the annual pay policy and gender pay gap reporting, the discretionary use of shared staffing arrangement pay scales, and posts created and deleted since the previous meeting. Decisions were made on all three agenda items.

Annual Pay Policy and Gender Pay Gap Reporting

The committee discussed the annual pay policy and the reporting of the gender pay gap (GPG). Members noted that while the guidance defines the GPG, public sector pay scales do not differentiate between men and women. Councillor Ravi Govindia, Deputy Chairman for the meeting, observed that any pay differences within local government are typically due to length of service on a particular grade, not gender. The Chief Executive, supported by Councillor Guy Senior, emphasised that pay discrimination has been unlawful since the 1970s and that producing an annual GPG percentage provides the two councils with valuable insight into the gender profile of the Shared Staffing Arrangement (SSA) workforce. Pamela Fleming, an alternate member for Councillor Stephen Speak, asked about the gender breakdown of the SSA workforce, and the Head of Human Resources advised that the top five per cent of the SSA workforce is 40% female and 60% male.

Councillor Simon Hogg, Leader of the Council, suggested that the GPG statement could be expanded to include the proportions of males and females employed across both councils, including those employed by contractors. The Chief Executive explained that this would go beyond government requirements, as most contractors and other local employers are required to publish their own GPG statements. He also noted that the councils are unable to identify the gender profiles of staff employed by national or international contractors such as Capita. The Head of Human Resources added that advice from London Councils recommended not including community schools in GPG statements. The committee resolved to approve the recommendation in paragraph 2.1 of Paper No. 18-75 for recommendation to both councils.

Discretionary Use of Shared Staffing Arrangement Pay Scales

The committee approved the recommendations in paragraph 2.1 of Paper No. 18-76 regarding the discretionary use of Shared Staffing Arrangement pay scales.

Posts Created and Deleted

The committee approved the recommendation in paragraph 1.1 of Paper No. 18-77 concerning posts created and deleted since the previous meeting.