Council Pay Scheme Could Cost Staffs Tax-Payer £250 More

Conservative opposition councillors at Staffordshire County Council are warning that a new pay scheme for employees could eventually cost taxpayers £50-70 million in back pay and pay protection - meaning that every taxpayer would need to pay an extra £250 to support the council's 30,000 employees.

Last month the Labour-controlled council threw out its first attempt at introducing a new pay scheme after widespread anger from staff.

But only £17million has been set-aside in the new budget, which Conservative opposition say could prove to be far short of what could eventually be needed.

Deputy Group Leader for the Conservatives, Ian Parry said that the problem lies at the heart of the Council.

"For years pay scales and pay policy has been neglected and the number of employees allowed to grow without proper controls. The result is a larger workforce with a pay structure that is all over the place. The cost of putting it right and meet fair and equal pay legislation will inevitably be huge," he said.

Conservatives want to know how much the Council is prepared to borrow to fund its job evaluation programme and how much it will eventually cost tax-payers.