Today the Council Finance Officer issued a second report under section 114 of Local Government Finance Act 1988 and the city solicitor issued a report under Section 5 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, because of the council’s inaction in implementing a job evaluation scheme to tackle the equal pay issues in the long term
Green Party Group Leader Councillor Julien Pritchard said:
“What a shambles. This Labour Administration is collecting statutory notices like football stickers. A well-run council would not be hitting the headlines on a daily basis, but each new bombshell reveals just how badly the Labour Administration is still mis-managing the equal pay crisis.
It’s hard to imagine a worse situation than the one we currently have. Labour’s mis-management has opened the door to Tory appointed commissioners running our city, endangered vital public assets and public services, and affected the lives of residents in this city.
The Labour Administration needs to get a grip and provide re-assurance to residents and staff that this will be resolved. Delivering a job evaluation programme, and actually implementing fair and equal pay across the Council, is crucial, not just to stop this crisis from getting any worse, but also as a matter of basic fairness and justice for Council staff.
We need a resolution on the equal pay issue so the liability doesn’t get any worse. We also need solutions to the existing liability and financial crisis that protects our vital services and public assets.”