JUST one equal pay claim has been filed against North Lincolnshire Council in the past five years, compared to 150 against Lincolnshire County Council.

The figures, released to the Scunthorpe Telegraph under the Freedom of Information Act, also showed 23 claims were made to North East Lincolnshire Council.

Cllr Steve Swift, cabinet member for corporate services, said a policy change in 2002 had effectively removed the possibility for pay discrimination.

He said: "The one case we had, in 2008, was withdrawn when we demonstrated the post had been evaluated in 2002 and bonus payments had ceased at the same time.

"The council is committed to taking positive steps to eliminate unfair discrimination."

Tony Riley, Unison branch chairman at North Lincolnshire Council, said: "We did go through the job evaluation process in 2002. Some people gained and some people lost.

"It was something which needed to be done. We were happy with the outcome.

"I have attended meetings in Leeds with other branches across the region and some of them are just getting started with contacts and negotiations when we did it eight years ago.

"We have got good relationships within the council."

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