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Reporting local life since 1854
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
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MILLER EXIT DRAMA VALE IN CRISIS AHEAD OF BIG DERBY CLASH
WHAT PAY FREEZE?
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No inquest into death of mum
Picture: Wesley Webster
TESTS have shown a 19-yearold died of natural causes three weeks before she was due to give birth. Hayley Wilton, from Clayton, died suddenly on February 19 and lost her baby. There will be no inquest held into the death of the mum-of-two, allowing Hayley’s family to make arrangements for her funeral. Dozens of people have left flowers and candles outside her home in Thames Road. Clayton Hall Business and Language College has also paid tribute to the former pupil who left in 2008. Associate headteacher Julian Morgan said: “Hayley was a kind young woman who will be missed by everyone at Clayton Hall.” Hayley’s body was found in the bathroom by her boyfriend Ashley Culverwell. Their daughter Esmae-Rose was due on March 11.
‘NO CHOICE’: Paul Shotton.
Thousands of public sector workers to share £6.2m of salary increases BY ALEX CAMPBELL alex.campbell@thesentinel.co.uk
MORE than 14,000 council workers are to pocket average wage increases of around £500 this year – despite a national pay freeze. They will pick up annual incremental increases within their current pay bands under the terms of their contracts. And the payments are not restricted by the Government’s ongoing public sector pay freeze. It means more than 11,600 Staffordshire County Council employees are entitled to contractual increases; totalling £4.8 million in 2012/13. The biggest individual payments are likely to be £1,943. In Stoke-on-Trent, 2,553 city council workers will receive an incremental increase at a cost of £1.4 million. The contract perks come as the city council is saving £24 million in 2012/ 13 and increasing council tax by 3.49 per cent. The county council needs to save £25 million. City Councillor Paul Shotton, cabinet member for resources,
said: “Staff increments are not covered by the Government’s pay freeze and are contractual agreements that we cannot alter as they are a statutory obligation. We have no choice when it comes to making these payments.” Unions say the soaring cost of living and the national pay freeze make the increments insufficient for many workers. Steve Elsey, interim branch secretary for Unison Staffordshire, said: “This is a contractual right that was hard fought for.” The increments allow staff to reach the top of their pay band. The bands are split into four tiers and, provided they are judged to be doing their jobs properly, workers continue to rise to the top of their band without needing an actual pay increase. The number of people receiving increments is falling year-onyear as hundreds of staff are made redundant and others reach the top of their pay band.
The city council awarded 3,304 incremental rises last year at a cost of £1.7 million, while the county council paid out £5.7 million in 2011/12 to almost 16,000 staff. The county council now has 12,241 workers. City Councillor Dave Conway, below, leader of the opposition independents group, called for officers on more than £50,000 to take a voluntary five per cent pay cut. The city council has 5,713 employees. He said: “If lower-paid workers receive a rise I have no problem with that. Those on £16,000 to £20,000 could do with the help. The onus should be on those earning big wages to take a cut.” Jim Gibson, chairman of Chell Heath Residents’ Association, said: “Even though they say it’s a pay freeze it’s not. Nobody else is getting more money.” Cheshire East Council has frozen increments until November at the earliest. Figures for Staffordshire Moorlands District Council and Newcastle Borough Council were not available.
Should the increments be frozen? Email us at letters@ thesentinel.co.uk
Witness appeal after shooting POLICE are appealing for witnesses to a shooting. A window was smashed in the incident in Goldenhill yesterday. Officers have moved to reassure residents that the attack was specifically targeted at the property in Broadfield Road. See Page 3
WHERE’S THE HOLY GRAIL? SEE PAGE 5
Ryan to be given wide berth SEE BACK PAGE
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