Councils to be required to publish senior pay policy statement - Localism Bill

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Councils to be required to publish senior pay policy statement - Localism Bill

The government’s Localism Bill, published on Monday 13 December 2010, includes requirements for councils approve and publish rules on setting pay for senior staff. Any attempt to depart from the rules would require a vote in full council.

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The Bill states:

“The statement must include the authority’s policies relating to:

  • the level and elements of remuneration for each chief officer

  • remuneration of chief officers on recruitment

  • increases and additions to remuneration for each chief officer

  • the use of performance related pay for chief officers

  • the use of bonuses for chief officers

  • the approach to the payment of chief officers on their ceasing to hold office under or to be employed by the authority

  • the publication of and access to information relating to remuneration of chief officers.”

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The Localism Bill, published 13 December 2010, runs to more than 400 pages. On 17 January 2011 the House of Commons debated the main principles of the Bill. The Commons decided that the Bill should be given its Second Reading and sent it to a Public Bill Committee for scrutiny. The Bill aims to devolve decision-making powers from Whitehall to local communities and their local democratically-elected representatives.

Chapter 6 sets out requirements for councils to prepare "senior pay policy statements" which they will then be required to follow when setting senior pay: www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmbills/126/11126.15-19.html#j305.

For more details about the Localism Bill visit www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmbills/126/en/2011126en.htm.