The Committee considered a report that presented the Council’s Gender, Ethnicity and Disability Pay Gap Reports for 2024, all of which were appended to the report along with the Workforce Profile 2023-24.

The report stated that the mean gender pay gap was 1.57% and the median was 0%, compared to 0.82% and 0% in the previous year. The mean ethnicity pay gap for 2024 was 4.17% and 0.68% median, compared to 2.45% and minus 0.4% median in the previous year.

In addition to voluntarily publishing ethnicity pay gap information for the first time the Council was also voluntarily publishing disability pay gap information. The mean disability pay gap was 2.05% and the median 0%.

The Workforce Profile for 2023/24 provided a summary of equalities monitoring data and trends over time. It covered data on the protected characteristics of the current workforce and job applicants in 2023/24 and compared it to the previous three financial years where relevant.

The report stated that taking positive action on workplace equality could have significant benefits for an organisation’s reputation, culture and people. The Ethnicity, Disability and Gender Pay Gap Reports were a fundamental step on the Council’s journey to improving workplace equality and would help to create a baseline to track progress and drive continual improvement.

Resolved:    That the Gender Pay Gap, Ethnicity Pay Gap and Disability Pay Gap Reports and the Workforce Profile 2023-24, in the appendices attached to the report, be noted.