Cllr Tilsley responds to the Equal Pay progress report

This is a particularly dispiriting report.

I have always questioned the wisdom of putting the figure of £760M in the public domain because it sets a target for Trade Unions and claimants to aim at. It was a mistake and we are paying for it.

I always question the authenticity of the figures as well. Consider for one moment, £760M. If there are 10,000 successful claims that means that each of them is going to get £76,000.

If there are 5,000 successful claims it means, double it, £152,000 per claim.

 These figures are completely erroneous. They aren't based in fact at all.

We know from previous claims, they have never been anywhere near those numbers. The commissioners have come in and unearthed a barrage of tribulations. It is true that I've had conversations with the chief commissioner, and i'm sure we all wish him a swift recovery from his surgery, Max Caller does not believe that the final figure will be £760M. He believes it will be more like £250M, so at a stroke you remove the reason they came in in the first place.

Now despite me being a member of the strategic finance committee and finance board, where job evaluations have been examined and tested and colleagues have asked all the right questions, and we have been told all the right answers; The answers have been erroneous and we know we won't hit the date of 1 April 2025. This has stretched over so long. I am being careful with my words -accurate information.

Audit will be interesting on 10 December, I will be chairing and the main item will be a report from Grant Thornton. I will be questioning the authenticity of their equal pay claim figures.

We look and hope.