THE pay of all Cheshire West and Chester Council staff is to be reviewed in 12-18 months’ time, it has emerged.

The new council – due to take over from the county and district councils on April 1 – is expected to have £½bn budget and in the region of 15,000 staff.

The issue was raised at a scrutiny committee meeting which saw questions to Cheshire West and Chester Leader Councillor Mike Jones.

He revealed that a scheme would be put in place to support staff who accepted jobs at a lower level of pay and that a full pay review would take place in 12-18 months’ time.

Replying to Labour Cllr Don Beckett, who asked a question about the culture of the new authority, particularly in relation to the appointment of senior officers, Cllr Jones described the recruitment process as “vigorous” and said it was designed to ensure effective and appropriate appointments were made.

He highlighted the difference in responsibilities of directors of the new authority and those from the district councils and said the new council would have a different approach.

This would not be imposed from one of the authorities which would disappear. Examples included new ways of working within the council on local arrangements and local budgets.