Agenda item

Urgent notice of Motion – Agenda item 16

To consider the under-mentioned Notice of Motion standing in the names of:

A. Morgan, M. Webber, L. Addiscott, M. D. Ashford, J. Barton. D. R. Bevan, J. Bonetto, S. Bradwick, J. Brencher, G. Caple, J. Cook, A. Crimmings, S. J. Davies, R. Davis, V. Dunn, E. L. Dunning, J. Edwards, J. A. Elliott, L. Ellis, S. Emanuel, R. Evans, A. S. Fox, R. Harris, S. Hickman, G. Holmes, G. Hopkins, W. Hughes, G. Jones, G. O. Jones, R. R. Lewis, W. Lewis, C. Leyshon, M. Maohoub, C. Middle, N. H. Morgan, S. Morgans, M. A. Norris, D. Owen-Jones, D. Parkin, S. Powderhill, C. Preedy, S. Rees, M. Rees-Jones, A. Roberts, J. Smith, G. Stacey, L. A. Tomkinson, W. Treeby, J. Turner, G. L. Warren, K. Webb, D. Williams, G. E. Williams, R. Williams, T. Williams, R. Yeo.

Following the Employee Regional Consultation Briefing, which took place on 27th June, this Council notes:

That Local Government has endured central government funding cuts of more than 50% since 2010. This has consequently led to a reduction in funding for Local Government in Wales to the tune of £1bn between 2010 and 2020, with RCT suffering a £95m reduction in revenue funding over this period.

Despite these severe cuts imposed by the Westminster Government, Welsh Local Authorities have been afforded some protection by the Welsh Government. This protection has, however, only extended as far as averting crises in the vital frontline services that all residents rely upon.

Over the last two years, Councils have led the way in efforts against the Covid-19 pandemic, continuing to provide a huge range of services and essential support for our communities. During this period Local Government has shown more than ever how indispensable it is. But Covid has led to a massive increase in expenditure and loss of income, and as we emerge from the pandemic, Local Authorities and schools need far more support from Westminster Council and school workers kept our communities safe through the pandemic, often putting themselves at considerable risk as they worked to protect public health, provide quality housing, ensure our children continue to be educated, and look after older and vulnerable people.

Since 2010, the local government workforce has endured years of pay restraint with the majority of pay points losing 27.5 per cent of their value since 2009/10.

Staff are now facing the worst cost of living crisis in a generation, with RPI forecast by the Office for Budgetary Responsibility (OBR) to average at 9.8% across 2022 and currently running at 11.1%.

As a result of the cost-of-living crisis, many staff are having to make impossible choices between food, heating and paying for other essentials. This is a terrible situation for anyone to find themselves in.

At the same time, workers have experienced ever-increasing workloads and persistent job insecurity. Across the UK, 900,000 jobs have been lost in local government since June 2010 – a reduction of more than 30 per cent. Local government has arguably been hit by more severe job losses than any other part of the public sector. There has been a disproportionate impact on women, with women making up more than three-quarters of the local government workforce.

Recent research shows that if the Government were to fully fund the Unions’ 2022 pay claim, around half of the money would be recouped thanks to increased tax revenue, reduced expenditure on benefits and tax credits, and increased consumer spending in the local economy.

This Council therefore believes:

Our workers are public service super-heroes. They keep our communities clean and safe, look after those in need and keep our towns and cities running.

Without the professionalism and dedication of our staff, the Council services our residents rely on would not be deliverable.

Local government workers deserve a proper, real-terms pay increase. The Westminster Government needs to take responsibility and fully fund this increase; it should not put the burden on Local Authorities - whose funding has been cut to the bone and who were not offered adequate support by the Westminster Government through the Covid-19 pandemic.

In advance of the nearing Autumn Budget and determining funding to be allocated under the Barnett consequential, this Council resolves to:

• Support the pay claim submitted by UNISON, GMB and Unite on behalf of Council and school workers, for an increase of £2,000 or RPI (whichever is greater)

• Call on the Welsh Local Government Association to make urgent representations to

the Westminster Government to fund the NJC pay claim

• Write to the Chancellor and Secretary of State to call for a pay increase for local

government workers to be funded with new money from central government

• Meet with local NJC Union representatives to convey support for the pay claim and

consider practical ways in which the Council can support the campaign

• Encourage all local government workers to join a union.

The following suggested alteration to the Notice of Motion by the Plaid Cymru Group “This Council resolves to write to Welsh Government to ask that they commit to underwrite any pay award that is granted” was not accepted by the mover of the Notice of Motion.

Following a discussion, it was RESOLVED to adopt the Notice of Motion.

(Note: All members of the Plaid Cymru Group, present at the meeting, wished to have their names recorded as voting in favour of the suggested alteration to the Notice of Motion:  Councillors K Morgan, S Evans, D Grehan, A Ellis, A Rogers, D Wood and H Gronow).