Pay cut for council staff to be reversed

A mayor has said she will restore full pay to staff at a council who had their salaries cut by 2.5% back in 2012.

Ros Jones said it was the "right time" to reverse the 14-year policy at City at Doncaster Council in her upcoming budget.

She said the proposal would be included in her financial plans for 2025/2026 and would help with recruitment and retention of staff.

Doncaster is run by an elected mayor and the budget is one of the only items which requires approval by the full council. Reform UK has a majority of councillors, but members have previously pressed the mayor on pay restoration.

Council staff earning more than £14,733 had pay cuts ranging from one to 2.5% imposed by the then-Mayor, Peter Davies in 2012.

All authorities in South Yorkshire imposed staff pay cuts in 2012, during a period of austerity under the Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government.

However, Sheffield, Barnsley and Rotherham councils all fully restored pay, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

"I recognise that our staff are the most important valuable asset to our council," Jones said.

"They work day in and day out to serve our local people and communities."

She said pay restoration had been raised with her by staff and trade unions for a decade.

"I made the commitment to regularly keep it under review, reviewing options alongside consideration of all budget pressures, as part of my annual budget setting process.

"I do consider the time is right, given our budget plans and the first multi-year local government financial settlement for over a decade that gives us certainty of funding for the medium-term."

Sarah Barnes, GMB organiser in South Yorkshire, said the announcement was a step in the right direction.

"Today is progress, and we'll be going over the proposal to make sure this restoration is delivered properly and without delay."

Barnes said GMB members had waited "far too long for fairness" and promised the union would keep members updated.

During a meeting of full council in November 2025, Reform UK councillor Chris Kidger pressed Jones for a timeline to pay restoration.

He said "fair and competitive" pay was crucial for addressing the authority's issues with hiring and retaining staff.

The mayor's budget proposals will be revealed on 3 February before being considered by her cabinet on 11 February and full council on 26 February.

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