DORSET Council is still not paying some of its staff at the Real Living Wage threshold – according to Lib Dem group leader Nick Ireland.

He claims some staff get £1,500 a year less than the lower limit – although the council has denied this.

Cllr Ireland says that many local authorities, including Cornwall, are now accredited Real Living Wage employers, with some insisting their suppliers also have the same status. He has called for Dorset Council to move to the same status.

Dorset Council says that the last national local government pay award for 21-22 will bring its lowest pay point to £9.50 an hour, the same as the National Living Wage, from April 1st.

It says when this year’s pay increase is finally agreed, assuming the increase is the same, it will take the lowest rate to £9.75 an hour, which it says is an annual difference of £288, not the £1,500 quoted by Cllr Ireland.

“Moving unilaterally to the Real Living wage not only has practical implications on pay differentials but also see us paying outside of the nationally agree rates.

“Comparisons with other councils are easy to make but of course only ever tell part of the story.  We know that for example some who pay the Real Living Wage are also making large numbers of redundancies in order to balance their budgets.  We are not.  What would Cllr Ireland prefer?” said a Cabinet statement.