There were no apologies for absence.

To receive details of any member nominated to attend the meeting in place of a member of the panel.

There were no named substitutes.

To receive declarations of interests in respect of Schedule 1, Schedule 2 or Other Interests from members of the committee in respect of items on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve the minutes of the meetings held on 15 and 24 November 2021.

It was resolved that:

the minutes of the meetings held on 15 and 24 November 2021 be approved.

To receive any written questions from members of the public.

Details of the scheme and related guidance are available here:

https://www.herefordshire.gov.uk/info/200148/your_council/61/get_involved

Please submit questions to councillorservices@herefordshire.gov.uk

The deadline for the receipt of questions is Tuesday 11 January at 5.00 pm.

Accepted questions will be published as a supplement prior to the meeting.

There were no questions from members of the public.

To receive any written questions from councillors.

Please submit questions to councillorservices@herefordshire.gov.uk

The deadline for the receipt of questions is Tuesday 11 January at 5.00 pm.

Accepted questions will be published as a supplement prior to the meeting.

There were no questions from councillors.

To recommend the 2022 pay policy statement to Full Council for approval and publication.

The assistant director, people introduced the report. The panel heard that the annual pay policy statement set out a record of policies currently in place and did not introduce or set new policy. The panel had previously requested that information on the gender pay gap be included with the statement and this would be added to the final version presented to Council for approval.

The pay awards for 2021 and 2022 had not yet been made. The lowest two points on the pay scale set out in the table in appendix A risked falling below the national minimum wage in April if no announcements were made on the pending pay awards by then. However there were no staff currently employed on those lowest points.

The panel discussed the draft statement. It was proposed that the council should adopt the national living wage as the minimum pay grade. It was agreed that the chief executive be asked to explore the implications for the council, including the impact on local authority maintained schools and on council suppliers. This would be brought back to a future meeting of the panel.

It was resolved that:

(a) The pay policy statement at appendix A is recommended to Full Council, subject to the inclusion of information on the gender pay gap.