Councils will be consulted this month after local government trade unions demanded a ‘substantial’ pay increase amid rising costs of food, fuel and household bills.

The unions have asked for the increase to be the larger figure out of £2,000 or the current rate of the retail price index, which hit 11.1% in April.

Their pay claim does not apply to council chief executives or senior officers, who are covered by separate national pay arrangements.

Unions argue they represent key workers who are looking for recognition of their service throughout the pandemic.

Unite acting national officer for local government, Graham McNab, said: 'Our local government members have been the bedrock that allowed public services to function smoothly during the pandemic against a background of more than a decade of cuts to local council budgets.

'Many of our members are on poverty wages and deserve a large inflation-busting pay rise as they have endured a savage reduction in pay in real terms.'

Unison's head of local government, Mike Short, added: 'Many staff are struggling to make ends meet and, unless they’re paid properly, many will decide to quit for better paid work elsewhere.

'Employers and the Government need to invest properly in the local government and school workforce to ensure the important services on which everyone relies are fit for the future.'

Industrial action has hit the sector in recent months, with a long-running bin strike in Coventry among the most high-profile.

Responding to the pay demand, chair of the National Employers, Cllr Sian Timoney, said: 'We will be consulting with councils during June to seek their views which will inform the National Employers’ response to the unions.

'Local government continues to face significant financial challenges, which became more acute during the pandemic, having lost more than £15 billion in government funding since 2010.

'As well as rising inflation, cost of living, energy and fuel prices, the forecast increases to the National Living Wage also presents a significant cost to local government that will put further pressure on council budgets.'