The Committee considered a report that presented the Council’s Gender, Ethnicity and Disability Pay Gap reports for 2025.  A copy of the Gender Pay Gap Report was attached to the report at Appendix 1, a copy of the Ethnicity Pay Gap Report was attached at Appendix 2, a copy of the Disability Pay Gap Report was attached at Appendix 3 and a copy of the Workforce Profile 2024-25 was attached to the report at Appendix 4.

The report stated that the gender pay gap was -0.33% and the median was 0.00%, this compared to the previous year’s figure of 1.57% mean and 0.00% median.  The mean ethnicity pay gap for 2024 was 2.85% and -0.27% median, compared to the previous year when they had been 4.17% and -0.68% median.  The mean disability pay gap was 2.98% and the median was 2.13% compared to the previous year when they had been 2.05% mean and 0.00% median.

The report also presented the Workforce Profile for 2024/25 which 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 2024/25 and compared it to the previous three financial years where relevant. 

Overall, the Council continued to demonstrate strong performance in workplace equality, with the gender pay gap indicating near parity in average earnings between men and women.  Ethnicity and disability pay gaps remained modest, with targeted actions underway to address disparities and improve representation at senior levels. 

It was noted at the meeting that the next set of pay gap reports and Workforce Profile would include the Directorate of Children’s Services, which had transferred from Brighter Futures for Children to the Council on 1 October 2025.  The effect of this on the statistics in the reports would need to be made clear.

Resolved:    That the Gender Pay Gap Report, the Ethnicity Pay Gap Report, the Disability Pay Gap Report and the Workforce Profile 2024-25, as attached to the report at Appendices 1, 2,3 and 4, be noted.