WARRINGTON Borough Council's 'landmark' decision to pay all of its staff the living wage from April 1 will benefit more than 300 employees.

Councillors unanimously backed a proposal to pay staff £8.25 per hour and integrate it into the authority's salary structure at Monday's full council meeting.

The introduction of the new rate will cost around £270,000 in the first year but Cllr Russ Bowden, who is in charge of the budget, believes it was vital to implement the plan.

He said: "This is a significant landmark for this council – I am delighted to bring this forward.

"It has been an ambition for this administration to deliver the living wage for all council employees. There is also a strong economic case for Warrington as the money will be spent here.

"The council will now explore how partners and other organisations that the council has a contractual relationship with can be encouraged to also pay their staff the living wage, where they don't already.

"We fully intend to continuously review the rate paid to our staff in line with any changes to the rate set by the Living Wage Foundation each year.

"Agency staff continuously engaged for 12 weeks or more by the council will also be eligible to receive the same rates of pay as council employees, meaning they will then receive at least the living wage.

"Schools are also being strongly encouraged to pay the living wage to their directly employed employees and support and advice is being provided to all schools in the borough regarding its implementation."

Consultations with key stakeholders and trade unions have been carried out throughout the review.

The move received support from all corners of the Town Hall chamber, with attention now turning to how other organisations in the town can be influenced to follow in the same footsteps.

Cllr John-Kerr Brown (LAB – Poplars and Hulme) said: "We will be championing it to employers throughout Warrington and we will be ambassadors for it."

Cllr Hitesh Patel, executive board member for personnel and communications, added: "This is the proper living wage, not the Government's living wage."

Liberal Democrat leader Bob Barr described the move as 'definitely the right thing to do'.

He added: "I would like to applaud the council for this decision during a time when it is so hard-stretched."

The authority estimates 306 employees will be on the new rate from April 1.