Full Breakdown
Brighton and Hove City Council Faces Over 1,000 Unresolved Equal Pay Claims
6/25/2026, 1:32:57 AM
Council Faces Over 1,000 Equal Pay Claims
Grant Thornton’s audit identified 1,063 equal-pay claims against Brighton and Hove City Council, first raised by the GMB union in June 2023. The claims allege women receive lower pay for work of equal value. The council warns the legal process may last at least two years and that any liability is “unquantifiable”.
Background
The GMB union’s June 2023 accusation triggered the claims. The council responded by securing external legal support and King’s Counsel advice to assess exposure. Grant Thornton’s report to the Audit, Standards and General Purposes Committee noted a negative gender-pay gap (-7.9 %), meaning women earn more on average, but stressed equal-pay claims examine pay for comparable roles, not overall averages.
Key Figures
Finance Chief Elizabeth Griffiths told the audit committee there is no estimate of potential costs. Grant Thornton serves as external auditor, while King’s Counsel provides legal counsel. The GMB union, representing council staff, lodged the initial claim and continues to seek redress.
Data & Statistics
The audit recorded 1,063 claims. The gender-pay gap is –7.9 %, with a mean hourly rate of £20.56 for women versus £19.05 for men, and a median of £18.68 for women versus £17.49 for men. About 5,000 staff work for the council, with women comprising nearly two-thirds.
Official Responses
Brighton and Hove City Council says the claims are “defensible” and that its job-evaluation scheme regularly reviews pay and allowances. The council has engaged King’s Counsel and external legal counsel to quantify exposure, while acknowledging liability remains “unquantifiable”. Finance Chief Griffiths highlighted the lack of a cost estimate and the projected two-year resolution timeline.
Opposition
The GMB union argues that the council’s overall gender-pay gap does not address the specific pay differentials it alleges, prompting the equal-pay claims. It maintains that women’s work is undervalued relative to comparable male-held positions.
Conflicts
Sources separate the overall gender-pay gap from individual equal-pay claims, creating potential confusion about financial exposure. No definitive monetary estimate has been released, and the exact legal timeline remains uncertain.
Quotes
- “any potential liability is currently ‘unquantifiable’.” — Brighton and Hove City Council
- “the claims are ‘defensible’.” — Brighton and Hove City Council
- “there is no estimate of potential costs.” — Elizabeth Griffiths, Finance Chief
- “the legal process could take at least two years to resolve.” — Grant Thornton report
Future Outlook
The council will continue assessing legal risk with King’s Counsel, monitor the 1,063 claims, and report any emerging cost estimates to the Audit Committee. A final liability figure is expected only after the projected two-year legal process ends.
