BREACHES OF THE PAY REMIT PROCESS
51. There continues to be a number of occasions when in implementing the settlement public bodies have gone beyond the approved increase for staff in post percentage or where changes to working hours/annual leave have been negotiated but which have not featured or been costed into pay remit proposals considered by Ministers.
52. Where public bodies have implemented settlements beyond that which they have approval for or deviated from the basis on which the remit was approved or introduced components that have cost implications but did not feature in the pay remit for which approval was sought, this will be treated as a serious breach of the pay remit process. There is an expectation that public bodies adhere to the basis on which their remit has been approved, including any key features of the remit involving the deployment of resources to meet particular issues. The basis of approval of the remit will be made very clear and any breach will require the sponsor branch and accountable officer to justify the matter to the Portfolio Minister and the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth and could result in punitive action being taken, such as capping of future pay remits or a governance review of the body.