Pay policy statement

11.1 The employees within the scope of this policy are entitled to participate in the Council’s Salary Sacrifice Scheme, which includes a Childcare Voucher scheme, whereby any employee can sacrifice part of their salary for childcare vouchers. These vouchers are exempt from income tax or National Insurance contributions and therefore represent a saving for employees who then use them to purchase childcare. The childcare salary sacrifice scheme was closed by the Government, therefore only those who were in receipt of the vouchers prior to 6 April 2017 retain this benefit. A similar scheme is also open to employees to allow them to purchase bicycles.

11.2 The Council has an eye care voucher scheme in place to fulfil its obligation to provide those employees using display screen equipment with a bi- annual eye test and payment for a prescription required solely for display screen work. Vouchers are issued in accordance with the Councils’ Eye Test Policy.

11.3 The council offers employees the opportunity to take up salary sacrifice schemes, as agreed by the Head of Paid Service, including childcare vouchers, bicycles and cycle equipment.  Salary sacrifice is an agreement to reduce an employee’s entitlement to cash pay, usually in return for a non-cash benefit.

11.4 Employees that joined the Council from SopraSteria and Housing Trust under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations (TUPE), receive the benefits of a Group Life Scheme.

11.5 Council employees may be engaged on various election duties. The fees paid vary according to the duties and type of election they participate in.

11.6 Returning Officer duties and those of the Deputy Returning Officers, are contractual requirements and fees paid for national election and referendums are in accordance with Statutory Fees and Charges Order.