Council set to introduce “Living Wage” for lowest paid workers

COUNCILLORS at Warrington will be asked to approve the introduction of the national “Living Wage” to the authority when they meet in March.   
The borough council’s executive board has voted to recommend that the council adopt the Living Wage, set at £8.25 per hour, and integrate it into its salary structure.
The decision, which follows an internal review by a cross-party working group, is expected to benefit more than 300 employees, as well as any agency workers employed by the council for more than 12 weeks.
Cllr Russ Bowden (pictured), the council’s lead member for corporate finance said: “This is a bold decision in the face of mounting budgetary pressures, but it’s the right one.
“Those on the lowest incomes are the ones feeling the greatest effects of government cuts, yet they are the same people who work tirelessly to provide essential public services.
“We’ll also be encouraging local schools to adopt the Living Wage and exploring how all our contractual partners can be encouraged to do likewise.
“The living wage will be good for Warrington Borough Council in terms of staff morale and retention, and for the local economy which will benefit directly from this greater spending power.”
The introduction of the Living Wage for council staff will cost an estimated £270,000 in the first year and the cost has already been built into the council’s budget for 2016/17.