MD3255 2024-25 pay award for the GLA’s Mayoral Appointees and Statutory Officers

1.1.    Unison asked the GLA’s Chief Officer to make the first offer in the negotiations for the 2024-25 annual pay award. The GLA started with a proposal to offer a 4 per cent increase to all posts at Grades 1- 15 and spot rates. 

1.2.    It was the clear view of the GLA from the beginning of negotiations that an undifferentiated pay award for 2024-25 would be preferable, in order not to exacerbate existing anomalies within our pay structure – where in some cases the pay in one grade overlaps with the pay in another. It was also the view of the Chief Officer that this approach should apply to all staff, regardless of their grade.

1.3.    The Chief Officer’s final formal offer to Unison for the 2024-25 pay award was made on 26 January 2024. It was a 4.5 per cent pay award to Grades 1-15 and spot rates.

1.4.    The Chief Officer’s offer was accepted by Unison on behalf of their members on 26 February 2024.

1.5.    The Mayor and the London Assembly were consulted on the Chief Officer’s proposal (Appendix 1).

1.6.    Final agreement on the GLA staff pay award has been confirmed via CO 600 (Appendix 2).

1.7.    The pay award will be implemented in the 15 May 2024 payroll, backdated to 1 April 2024.

1.8.    There are two groups of staff whose pay awards are not included in the Chief Officer’s decision: the 13 Mayoral Appointees whose pay awards are determined by the Mayor; and the three Statutory Officers whose pay awards are a joint decision of the Mayor and the London Assembly. This Mayoral Decision relates to the pay award to these two groups.
 

2.1.    Under section 70(1) of the GLA Act, it is for the Mayor to determine the pay award for the 13 Mayoral Appointees under section 70(1) of the GLA Act. The London Assembly and the Mayor, acting jointly, determine the pay award for the GLA’s Statutory Officers in accordance with section 72 (Head of Paid Service), section 73 (Monitoring Officer) and section 127A (Chief Finance Officer) of the GLA Act 1999. The GLA’s Chief Officer holds the post of Head of Paid Service, and the Interim Chief Finance Officer, holds the post of statutory Chief Finance Officer. 

2.2.    The 2024-25 pay award proposed for the Mayoral Appointees and Statutory Officers is an increase of 4.5 per cent, which is the same as that being awarded to all other GLA staff on Grades 1-15 and spot rates. 
 

3.1.    The pay award applied to the Mayoral Appointees and Statutory Officers is based on a standard percentage increase of 4.5 per cent. Therefore, no negative impacts upon any of the recipients are expected. By applying the same percentage increase to all staff there is no disproportionate impact on any individual with a protected characteristic within the meaning of the Equality Act 2010.

4.1.    The sponsoring Assistant Director for this decision is the Assistant Director, Financial Services, as the Chief Officer and the Interim Chief Finance Officer have a conflict of interest.

4.2.    Every Mayoral Appointee is impacted by this decision, and therefore has a potential conflict. Accordingly, it has been reviewed by the Chief of Staff based on the instruction of the Mayor.

4.3.    The Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime (DMPC) is employed by MOPAC and is therefore not subject to this GLA decision. MOPAC’s policy is that the DMPC should be paid the same as other GLA full-time Mayoral Appointees and MOPAC is therefore expected to adopt the same salary increase for the DMPC.
 

5.1.    A sum of £4.7m has been provided for in the GLA’s 2024-25 budget for a pay award. 

5.2.    The proposals recommended in this paper are contained within this financial envelope, which is subject to formal approval by the Mayor of the GLA: Mayor budget for 2024-25. 
 

6.1.    The Mayor and the London Assembly, acting jointly, have the power to determine remuneration for the three Statutory Officers, as part of their contractual terms and conditions, in accordance with the following sections of the GLA Act 1999: 72 (1C) in relation to the Head of Paid Service;  73 (1C) in relation to the Monitoring Officer; and 127A(3) in relation to the Chief Finance Officer.  

6.2.    The Mayor’s approval to changes to the remuneration of the Statutory Officers must be given via a Mayoral Decision Form. The full London Assembly must decide whether to agree to any changes to the Statutory Officers’ terms and conditions including remuneration. 

6.3.    By adopting the Statutory Officer Protocol, the Mayor and the London Assembly jointly agreed that, as a matter of principle, the standard terms and conditions that apply to all staff appointed by the Head of Paid Service should normally also apply to the three Statutory Officers.

6.4.    Under section 70(1) of the GLA Act, the Mayor has the power to determine the remuneration of the 13 Mayoral Appointees appointed by him under section 67 (1) of the GLA Act.