A motion to raise the minimum council pay to the national 'living wage' of £7.20 is to be brought before the full council by Councillor Rod Cantrill. The new minimum wage will now reflect the high cost of living in Cambridge. The decision follows continued pressure for the council to become a Living Wage Employer. The council will also encourage its contractors to take similar steps. 

The national 'living wage', established in 2001, takes into account housing, food, and utilities. It is often cited as the minumum wage required to support a family of four.

In February, David Milliband visited Cambridge to speak at a Cambridge Universities Labour Club meeting in favour of the introduction of the living wage. However, some employees at the City Council, one of the city's largest employers, remain on wages below this level.

The failure of Cambridge colleges to pay all staff at least the living wage was reported by Varsity in January. The figures, including a breakdown for each college, were released following a Freedom of Information request by the Cambridge University Labour Club. At that time, 112 University employees were paid below this level, with only Hughes Hall able to state that they pay all workers were paid the living wage. Homerton and Emmanuel then employed 65 and 70 people on lower wages respectively. 

Councillor Rod Cantrill said: “Cambridge is an expensive city in which to live and the minimum wage is not enough for families to make ends meet; the cost of housing, rising food bills and utility prices present real challenges.

“The Liberal Democrats in government have secured a tax cut for low paid families by raising the tax free allowance. And the city council’s move to make sure all of its employees are paid at least the living wage builds on this, giving people more money in their pockets.”

The plans to ensure that agency staff receive the current national living wage will be considered as part of the council’s budget process for 2013/14. 

In March, a university spokesperson stated that: “Within the university, the majority of jobs below the living wage are generally trainee grades or individuals on zero hours contracts – ie. they work when there is some work to do, but there is no obligation to provide a set number of hours of work in any period. Some of these may also be temporary in nature.”

Living Wage Week will be marked across the UK between November 4 and 10.