RTPI survey reveals authority pay cuts

Domenic Donatantonio, Planning, 12 September 2008

The surveys, conducted in June, were anonymous but planners were asked to name their local authority. In all, more than 750 planners in England, Wales and Scotland replied to the survey.

Around two-thirds of respondents across Britain agreed that pay cuts as a result of job evaluation were significantly increasing difficulties with recruitment and retention.

More than 50 planners reported pay cuts. Almost half of those in England said that job evaluation had made them consider a move to the private sector. In Scotland the figure exceeded 40 per cent and in Wales reached almost 60 per cent.

A lack of corporate understanding was signalled in the survey, with 32 per cent of planners in England unable to give their authority's comprehensive performance assessment rating.

RTPI Planners in the Workplace manager Chris Sheridan said: "It is not unreasonable for an employer to ensure that its staff are well informed and that does not seem to be happening."

Planning Officers Society president Phil Kirby claimed that authorities' use of single status job evaluation has led to many planners being hit in the pocket.

"There are some very worrying statistics revealed by the survey. We need to increase the number of people we get into the sector," Kirby warned.