Issue - meetings

That Cabinet approve that arrangements be made for the Living Wage Initiative to be implemented for Council employees from 1 April 2013 and for the Council to obtain accreditation as a Living Wage Employer.       

A report was received seeking to obtain approval from Cabinet, regarding the Living Wage Initiative with a view to the Council becoming a ‘Living Wage Employer’.

The Living Wage campaign was launched by the charity London Citizens in 2001 and had cross-party support. Accreditation provided employers with a licence to the living wage employer mark. The accreditation process was relatively simple and was open to employers already paying the living wage, or those committed to an agreed timetable of implementation.

There was evidence that benefits can include: improved recruitment and retention, higher employee morale, motivation and productivity and reputational benefits of being an ethical employer. Based on posts currently filled, 19 permanent employees would be affected and up to a further 27 casual employees.

The Portfolio Holder for Finance and Budget Management had pleasure in supporting the Council on its way to implementing the Living Wage. It was hoped becoming a Living Wage employer would be expedited and the next stage would be to plan how the Living Wage could be brought in for future suppliers and sub-contractors so that they paid their employees the Living Wage and were also ethical employers.

Cabinet considered the initiative to be excellent, as it would give staff incentive and ensure the people the Council were doing business with were socially responsible.

RESOLVED:                        That Cabinet approve that arrangements be made for the Living Wage Initiative to be implemented for Council employees from 1 April 2013 and for the Council to obtain accreditation as a Living Wage Employer.