The Leader of Nottinghamshire County Council reiterated his commitment to a fair wage for its lowest-paid employees during national Living Wage Week.

And young people from across the county have highlighted the Living Wage as the most important topic to them.

Nottinghamshire County Council became one of the first local authorities in the East Midlands to pay the Living Wage to its employees, when it was implemented in April this year.

The Living Wage is an hourly rate of pay, set independently every year and based on the cost of living in the UK.

More than 2,000 of the council’s lowest paid, frontline workers benefitted from the introduction of the new minimum rate of pay for its employees, set at £7.65 in November last year.

It was announced last week that the nationally-determined rate is to increase to £7.85.

Prior to the implementation of the Living Wage, the lowest paid county council workers received £6.45 per hour.

Councillor Alan Rhodes went out on patrol with county council lollipop lady, Tracey Pinkney during Living Wage Week.

Tracey has two part-jobs with the council and is paid the Living Wage for both roles – as a school crossing patrol in Boughton and a school cook in Southwell.

Councillor Rhodes said: “Our frontline workers provide important, services, which I know are valued greatly by the people of Nottinghamshire and the council. It’s only right that they receive a fair wage for the often difficult jobs they do.

“Over recent years local government pay has lagged behind the rising cost of living. We know this has made life difficult for many employees, especially the lowest paid.

“Paying our employees the Living Wage makes economic sense too. The majority of workers who benefit live in some our poorest communities, meaning that businesses in those areas also benefit from our workers having a little extra in to spend.

“The council is committed to being a good employer and we are committed to paying the Living Wage. We hope that many more Nottinghamshire employers will follow our lead by seeing the benefits the Living Wage can bring to them, their workforce and our communities.”

Meanwhile 11,686 young people from the East Midlands – including nearly 2,000 from Nottinghamshire – highlighted the Living Wage as the most important topic to them in this year’s Make your Mark ballot.

Members of the UK Youth Parliament will come together on 14 November to debate some of the issues raised in the ballot – with the Living Wage being top of the agenda for East Midlands and Nottinghamshire members.