Senior managers at Harrow Borough Council are to see their pay cut by 2.5 per cent.

The council’s chief executive and corporate directors are facing a pay cut of 2.5 per cent and all staff with basic pay of more than £21,375 will suffer a one per cent pay cut.

Last week the council announced that it has reached an agreement with trade unions which aims to modernise the working arrangements of council employees, and to cut costs.

As part of the agreement, senior managers, and other staff, will see their basic pay cut while the lowest paid workers will see an increase in their basic pay.

There will also be reductions in payments for overtime and weekend working.

Councillor Bill Stephenson, said: “The agreement brings in changes that better enable us to continue to deliver high quality services to our community.

‘‘Dealing with the impact of the government’s public sector cuts presents huge challenges for the council and trade unions. 

“That we have been able to reach agreement on a package to both modernise our employment conditions and reduce costs speaks volumes for our relationship with staff and the responsible approach taken by the council and our trade unions. 

“The administration is bringing to the next full council meeting a proposal that councillor allowances are affected similarly.'’

John Noblemunn, Unison regional organiser, added: “In what are difficult times for public sector workers across local government and in an era of unprecedented cuts to financial livelihoods, we have listened to the views of our members and have worked hard to mitigate the worst of the original modernising proposals by negotiating a hybrid agreement with Harrow Council.

“The hybrid agreement is an innovative settlement setting Harrow apart from other local authorities who have adopted draconian cuts to terms and conditions without considering the impact on its workforce, their families and local services to the community.”