Following the Conservative County Councillors’ decision to enforce a pay cut on council staff, Lib Dem Councillors are to help affected staff by contributing a matching proportion of their allowance to a staff hardship fund.

At the County Council meeting on 11 December, the Lib Dems voted against the Conservatives’ imposition of a 1.2% pay cut on many council staff.

The cut will affect both full-time staff earning £26,000 or more but also part-time staff on an equivalent pay band but taking home very much less.

The Lib Dems also proposed that the massive 30% pay rise the Conservatives voted themselves last year be reconsidered by the Independent Remuneration Panel. But the Conservatives voted this proposal down while agreeing to a 1.2% cut.

Now the Lib Dem councillors have set up a regular payment to UNISON’s Hardship fund to help staff particularly badly affected by the pay cut.

“The Conservatives are behaving with extraordinary hypocrisy,” said Cllr Lucy Nethsingha. “They voted themselves a 30% pay rise costing taxpayers £185,000 and are now forcing staff to take a pay cut.”

“It’s breathtaking.”

The Lib Dems have already 'contributed' £5,000 by refusing to take up the Area Champion role to which they were entitled when the Lib Dems gained control of South Cambs District Council last May.

Notes

• Staff being forced to take a pay cut include not just those full-time staff earning £26,000 pa but those in a comparable band but who only work part time.
• The average UK salary is £27,000-£28,000 in 2018.