This council notes:
Local government has endured central government funding cuts of
more than 50% since 2010. Between 2010 and 2020, councils lost 60p
out of every £1 they have received from central government.
Councils across England are now facing a collective funding gap of
£2.4bn for the financial year 2023/24 and a cumulative
funding gap of £4.08bn for 2024/25 according
to UNISON research.
Councils led the way in efforts against the Covid-19 pandemic,
providing a huge range of services and support for our communities.
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. Recent funding
announcements from the Government relating to schools did nothing
to help.
Council and school workers kept our communities safe through the
pandemic, often putting themselves at considerable risk as they
work 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 at least 25 per
cent of their value since 2009/10. Staff are now facing the worst
cost of living crisis in a generation, with inflation hitting 10%
and many having to make impossible choices between food, heating
and 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’ 2023 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 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 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 through the Covid-19 pandemic.
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 RPI +
2%
Call on the Local Government Association to make urgent
representations to central 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.
Minutes:
A Motion, included on the Agenda for the Meeting, was moved and seconded.
An Amendment displayed on the screen, was moved and seconded.
The Amendment was accepted by the mover and seconder of the Motion, with the agreement of the meeting.
A vote was taken on
the Altered Motion, which was CARRIED.
RESOLVED: A. That this council notes:
(i) Local government has endured central government funding cuts of more than 50% since 2010. Between 2010 and 2020, councils lost 60p out of every £1 they have received from central government. Councils across England are now facing a collective funding gap of £2.4bn for the financial year 2023/24 and a cumulative funding gap of £4.08bn for 2024/25 according to UNISON research.
(ii) Councils led the way in efforts against the Covid-19 pandemic, providing a huge range of services and support for our communities. 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. Recent funding announcements from the Government relating to schools did nothing to help.
(iii) Council and school workers kept our communities safe through the pandemic, often putting themselves at considerable risk as they work to protect public health, provide quality housing, ensure our children continue to be educated, and look after older and vulnerable people.
(iv) Since 2010, the local government workforce has endured years of pay restraint with the majority of pay points losing at least 25 per cent of their value since 2009/10. Staff are now facing the worst cost of living crisis in a generation, with inflation hitting 10% and many having to make impossible choices between food, heating and other essentials. This is a terrible situation for anyone to find themselves in.
(v) 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.
(vi) There has been a disproportionate impact on women, with women making up more than three-quarters of the local government workforce.
(vii) Recent research shows that if the Government were to fully fund the unions’ 2023 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.
B. That this council believes:
(i) 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.
(ii) Without the professionalism and dedication of our staff, the council services our residents rely on would not be deliverable.
(iii) Local government workers deserve a proper real-terms pay increase. The 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 through the Covid-19 pandemic.
C.
That the Chief Operating Officer writes 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