Issue - meetings

Following Members’ approval at the last meeting of the Committee to use market supplement and golden hello payments for specific hard to fill posts across the Planning department, this report presents a Market Supplement Policy for Members’ consideration.

The report of the Director of Central Services and Deputy Chief Executive presented a Market Supplement Policy for consideration.  At the meeting of the General Purposes Committee on 3 July 2023, Members approved the use of market supplements and golden hello payments for specific hard to fill posts across the Planning Department.  This was in response to issues with the recruitment and retention of staff as well as the budgetary pressures linked to employing agency locum staff.

The Recruitment and Retention Market Supplement Policy was attached at Annex 1 to the report and set out the criteria for identifying posts which might require a market supplement and/or a golden hello payment.  The draft policy further outlined the process and principles for agreeing a market supplement and/or a golden hello payment and the annual review process to determine whether payments should continue, be reduced or be removed.

Due regard was given to both the financial and non-financial considerations, legal implications, risk assessment and policy considerations.

During discussion an update was received on the recent recruitment campaign to recruit to a number of vacant posts across Planning Services.  Due to the potential impact of market supplements on the MTFS, it was felt appropriate that any market supplement or golden hello payment be agreed by Management Team in consultation with the Chair of the General Purposes Committee and the Cabinet Member for Finance and Housing.  Members requested that any market supplements be reported to the Committee for audit trail purposes.

RESOLVED: That the adoption of the Recruitment and Retention Market Supplement Policy, attached at Annex 1 to the report, be approved, subject to amendments to paragraphs 3.2 and 5.2 whereby the level of market supplement/golden hello payment ‘will be agreed by Management Team (in consultation with the Chair of the General Purposes Committee and the Cabinet Member for Finance and Housing) following a report and recommendation from the Head of HR and Development, compiled in conjunction with the relevant service manager and director’.