The National Joint Council (NJC) for Local Government Services has reached an agreement on the 2025/2026 pay award. From 1 April 2025, staff on NJC terms will receive a 3.2% pay increase across all spinal column points (SCPs).
As employers, parish and town councils must ensure that:
The 3.2% increase is applied to all relevant employees from 1 April 2025.
Budgetary planning for 2026/2027 accounts for the removal of SCP 2, meaning staff currently on SCP 2 will move to SCP 3 as a minimum from April 2026.
Contracts, payroll systems, and salary schedules are updated accordingly to reflect these changes.
This pay award has been reached following national negotiation between the Local Government Association (LGA), representing employers, and trade unions including UNISON, GMB and Unite.
We know that staffing costs make up a significant proportion of council budgets, and we encourage all member councils to review their medium-term financial plans in light of these confirmed changes.
If you have any questions about the implementation of this pay award or need support in updating contracts and pay structures, please contact the DALC team. We are here to help you navigate the changes with confidence and compliance.
Please click the link below in order to access the pay scale document: