Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Director Corporate Services.

Agreed:

RECOMMENDED that Council:-

(1)   note the Findings and Observations as follows:

·        the average rate of pay for females is higher than males across the Council;

·        the difference had decreased slightly since last year from 5.00% to 3.91%; and

·        there were nearly three times more males in the lower quartile of earnings than females.

(2)   approves the publication of the Gender Pay Gap Report on the Exeter City Council website, as well as on the centrally held database on gov.uk; and

(3)   approves the annual review of the report to track the relationship between both female and males earnings.

Reason for Decision: As set out in the report.

The Executive received the report on the Gender Pay Gap, which was a statutory requirement of the Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties and Public Authorities) Regulations 2017, for local authorities who employed over 250 or more employees.

Members noted that the average rate of pay for females was higher than males at Exeter City Council and the difference had decreased from 5% in the previous year to 3.91%. Members also noted that there were nearly three times the number of males working in lower quartile earnings than female staff.

Particular reference was made to the national survey on gender pay gaps from the Office of National Statistics (ONS), which highlighted that the median pay was 8.3% less for females than males, which was the opposite at Exeter City Council. The

ONS survey also highlighted that the overall gap between female and male pay had been decreasing since 1997, but showed the overall average female pay gap for part time working was 2.9% higher than that of males.

During the discussion the following points were raised:-

·        The Council should be proud that women were paid more, compared to the national trend; and

·        Due to the historic nature of certain jobs, male staff were in lower paid jobs, while there were more female staff in management roles, which was welcomed.

The Leader commented on the ONS data, which showed the pay rise issues across the country and reflected on the cost-of-living crisis. He was pleased the Council supported its staff and honoured pay rises and working with the trade unions.

RECOMMENDED that Council:-

(1)   note the Findings and Observations as follows:

·        the average rate of pay for females is higher than males across the Council;

·        the difference had decreased slightly since last year from 5.00% to 3.91%; and

·        there were nearly three times more males in the lower quartile of earnings than females.

(2)   approves the publication of the Gender Pay Gap Report on the Exeter City Council website, as well as on the centrally held database on gov.uk; and

(3)   approves the annual review of the report to track the relationship between both female and males earnings.