Full Council | The Living Wage

There was a thought from the Tory benches that now was not the correct time to introduce the Living Wage

Can the Leader confirm that he, like me, is confused that the Leader on the benches opposite feels that this is not the right time to introduce the Living Wage?

The Living Wage Foundation is very clear on the matter - the Living Wage is NOT a statutory provision; employers choose to pay the rate of £7.65 because it's the right thing to do for their employees.

I would have thought that Cllr Yolonda Henson would be in favour of the Living Wage as it seems to reflect current Tory ideology, in that:

The Living Wage will help reduce the benefits bill
 
The Living Wage will help hard working people

The Living Wage will make work pay, by paying people to work at a rate enough to afford a minimum acceptable standard of living.

The Leader of the Tory Group says that the Living Wage has no impact on

Is the Leader aware of the IPPR and Resolution Foundation report “Beyond the Bottom Line” which calculated that if the statutory National Minimum Wage was a genuine Living Wage, the gross savings on the benefit bill and the extra tax revenue would add up to £3.6bn a year to the public purse?

So could the Leader ask on my behalf if not now, then when?



Some other thoughts I had, but decided not to use:
Can the Leader confirm that this is just the first step and that the Cost of Living Forum will help find ways of working in partnership with business, workers and civil society throughout the city.

The public sector performs a key social function by being an exemplary employer.

It has a long history of leading the way in progressive employment practices, whether on gender equality, parental leave or flexible working.

The same should apply to the living wage.

Where it is affordable, the public sector should pay directly-employed staff the living wage and should extol the virtues of doing so.

Will the Leader join me in saying that The Living Wage will be good news for our 64 employees –  but it’s also good news for HM Treasury, which would see income tax receipts and national insurance contributions rising, while spending on tax credits and in-work benefits falling.

A recorded vote was taken:
For (30 members):
Bialyk, Bowkett, Mrs Brock, Bull, Clark, Crew, Crow, Dawson, Denham, Donovan, The Deputy Lord Mayor (Hannaford), Edwards, Fullam, Leadbetter, The Right Worshipful The Lord Mayor (Lyons), Macdonald, Martin, Mitchell, Morris, Owen, Payne, Pearson, Prowse, Robson, Ruffle, Sheldon, Spackman, Sutton, Tippins, Wardle

Abstained (6 members)
Cllrs Baldwin, Henson, Mrs Henson, Mottram, Shiel, Winterbottom

Absent(4 members):
Cllrs Branston, Choules, Laws, Newby