Date published: 2025-05-15 | Category: Finance, Preparing for the Future
Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Employment Committee approved a series of recommendations to modernise the pay and grading arrangements for council staff, following an independent review and extensive consultation with employees and trade union representatives.
Most staff will see their pay increase or stay the same and those who are moving to a lower pay grade under the agreed changes will see no reduction in their pay for the three years of the pay protection scheme. It is by no means certain that anyone will see their pay go down after three years.
All staff including those with pay protection will receive the national pay award, backdated to 1st April 2025 when it is agreed. When combined with the new pay and grading arrangements, this could result in a pay rise of more than six per cent for some of the council’s lowest-paid employees.
The approved proposals aim to bring the council in line with other local authorities and ensure a fair and transparent pay system for its workforce.
A report before the committee also set out:
- Pay uplift for 62% of staff: Approximately 2,170 of the council’s 3,500 employees—including care workers, social workers, and apprentices—will receive a pay increase.
- No immediate changes for specific roles: Drivers, loaders, recycling advisors, and passenger transport staff will see no changes to their roles or pay at this stage, while the council continues to assess and consult on the best approach for implementing the new structure in these areas.
- There will be no reductions in actual pay for three years for the 106 staff moving to lower grades/pay under these proposals, as a result of the operation of the Pay Protection Policy.
- No change for remaining staff: The rest of the council’s workforce will retain their current grading.
Will Godfrey, Chief Executive of Bath & North East Somerset Council, said: "The Employment Committee reached a unanimous decision to move forward and implement the pay and reward proposals. All our staff are valued and work hard to provide excellent services for residents, businesses and visitors. This agreement marks an important step towards establishing a fair, sustainable, and modern pay structure that is fit for purpose.”
The full report and further details are available on the council website
ENDS