Issue - meetings

Purpose of Report

To recommend the proposed increase to the real living wage, as announced by the Living Wage Foundation in September 2024.

Decision

That the increase to the latest accredited real living wage uplift be implemented during April 2025.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

None. The Council was committed to maintaining its Real Living Wage accreditation and to do so the Council had six months to implement the accredited real living wage following an increase.

Reasons for the Decision

The aim of implementing the accredited real living wage was to ensure that no employees were paid below the accredited real living wage hourly rate. Since achieving accreditation, the Council had taken an active role externally to encourage Lincoln businesses to also pay the accredited real living wage.

In October 2024 it was announced that the real living wage would increase from £12.00 an hour to £12.60 an hour.

As of 31.December 2024, there were 33 employees who were paid less than the proposed real living wage rate of £12.60. 17 were on SP02 and 16 were on SP03.

There would be no financial impact as budgets took into account an assumed pay award which was over and above £12.60 per hour