1 December 2025
Naomi Cooke
Employers’ Secretary
Joint Negotiating Committee for Chief Executives of Local Authorities
Local Government Association
18 Smith Square
London
SW1P 3HZ
Dear Naomi,
Joint Negotiating Committee for local authority chief executives pay claim for April 2026 onwards
I am pleased to submit the pay claim from the Association of Local Authority Chief Executives and Senior Managers (ALACE) in respect of staff covered by the Joint Negotiating Committee for Chief Executives of Local Authorities.
ALACE was pleased that in 2024 and 2025 the link was made between the Chief Executives pay award and that of the top scale point of NJC. Given this principle has been established ALACE believes there is no reason why this cannot be continued.
Like last year, ALACE seeks a pay increase for all chief executives in April 2026 and subsequent years that is the same percentage increase (or equivalent percentage if expressed in £’s) as those local government colleagues at the top point of the NJC scale.
The pressure on Heads of Paid Service (HoPS) and other statutory officers is significant. The sector continues to face severe funding pressures and increasing service demands. Like last year, the workloads and responsibilities of Chief Executives and other senior colleagues remain very high. We regularly see the impact this can have on well-being.
High profile government priorities like local government reorganisation and the introduction of Mayoral bodies are carried on the shoulders of chief executives. It will be in the interests of employers to support them as they lead councils through these huge changes.
We expect the continuation of the approach agreed last year, which is a pay increase that matches that of colleagues on the top of the NJC scale.
You will recall the data we shared in 2023, which showed a 40% real term cut in the pay of local government chief executives when compared to other senior public servants (Headteachers, senior NHS colleagues, Fire & Rescue etc.).
Set against this are the significant leadership demands required by tight resourcing and increasing service demands, LGR and the introduction of mayors and combined authorities. All these issues create uncertainty, pressure and risk. Therefore, it is vital that our sector retains the experience, resilience and impartiality of local authority chief executives.
Given your previous acceptance that affordability is not a major consideration in deciding what offer to make to chief executives, we will not describe it again this year but do remind you that each 1% increase in pay for chief executives represents less than 0.003% of the total pay bill.
Indeed, given there is no financial reason to treat our members differently from other local government staff, we maintain that continuing the link with the NJC is affordable and justified.
Pay claim for 2026/27
ALACE seeks a pay increase for all chief executives in April 2026 and subsequent years that is the same as the percentage increase (or equivalent percentage if the offer is expressed in £s) as the top point on the scale for local government staff covered by the National Joint Council for Local Government Services.
As previously, we stress that the link to the pay increases for staff at the top of the NJC, does not mean that there is no longer a need for the JNC for Chief Executives. The unique nature of the role of head of paid service and its statutory basis, justify the continuing need for a separate negotiating body for local government’s most senior officers.
Like last year, if the 2026 pay deal for NJC staff involves any further increase in annual leave, we would expect to see a matching increase in the minimum leave allowance for chief executives.
We look forward to receiving the Employers’ response and the opportunity to negotiate on this matter, rather than receive a ‘final offer’.
Finally, we respectfully remind you of the strain within the sector. Our members are daily dealing with significant risk and challenging issues. Their sound advice to councils, elected members and communities can prove hugely demanding, stressful and lonely. We submit this claim expecting that the employers also recognise the unique leadership contribution of our members.
Yours sincerely
Kathryn Hall
Honorary Secretary
ALACE