Thurrock Council set to increase senior managers pay

THURROCK Council is set to increase senior managers pay by 4 per cent at a cost of £136,000.

The council, which is being run by Government appointed commissioners after issuing a s114 notice meaning it is unable to balance its budget, is struggling with £1.3billion debt but says the increase is needed to attract the right staff.

Pay for senior managers is governed by the “Pay Strategy and Pay Policy” which was implemented in 2010. An annual review is conducted each year to determine pay awards. The policy applies to assistant directors, directors and the chief executive. The independent assessment this year recommends a 4 per cent increase for senior management.

The council said the “slightly higher than national offer” will support the council’s ability to recruit and retain staff and “may been seen as a demonstration the council values it’s senior cohort equally”.

A report to the general services committee, said: “The review to determine 2023/24 salaries is particularly challenging taking place during a period of high levels of inflation and employers competing for talent in a tight labour market alongside the implications of the s114 notice.

“In the short-term, the council needs to continue to attract and retain the skills and capacity to deliver the Improvement and Recovery Plan, provide corporate leadership through a period of unprecedented change and transformation required to stabilise the council and bring about sustainability.”

It adds: “A competitive reward package will be an essential component of an overall package of attracting and retaining appropriate talent that includes factors such as a positive work culture, opportunity to lead transformation and deliver services for the benefit of the community along with professional and personal growth.”

Other options include matching a 3.5 per cent national offer, apply a lower percentage increase or giving no increase.

The increase comes just a week after a “best value report” by the commissioners showed a string of bad investments was made possible by a “dereliction in political and managerial leadership” and “serious weaknesses in internal control”, the report said. This, the commissioners said, was compounded by a lack of openness and transparency which led to a “culture of insularity and complacency”.

The Department of Levelling up, Housing and Communities stepped in in September last year. The Government has since given Thurrock £452m to fill its funding gap for 2022-23.

The committee will consider the recommendation on Tuesday.