A COUNCIL is facing a bill of up to £4.5m because the former Labour administration was underpaying women.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council cabinet member Dave Fitzpatrick said he and his colleagues were looking closely at the previous administration's budget to resolve issues such as equal pay.

Labour lost power in May when Liberal Democrats and Independents made significant advances on what is now a hung council.

Coun Fitzpatrick said: "Under Labour, the council paid women £2 an hour less than men. That could now run us up a bill of up to £4.5m.

"It has been a nation wide problem and a lot of councils just don't want to pay - but we believe it's our moral obligation. It's just a matter of finding funding for it."

Former deputy Labour leader Coun George Dunning said: "Inequality is a national issue and has been since 1964. We've had to wait for national investigations from the North East Employer's Association to finish. Had we been re-elected, we would certainly have tackled the lower paid employees before giving a rise to the 26 senior officers."

Unison regional officer Mike Hill said: "The issue of women in local government being underpaid compared to male comparitors is a national one and not unique to Redcar and Cleveland council.

"Unison recognises the financial restraints put upon councils and is working closely with the Local Government Pay Commission to highlight problems such as those raised by Coun Fitzpatrick."

The council recently released a statement assuring their workforce that equal pay issues are being handled in a fair, reasonable and structured way.

The council's chief executive Colin Moore said: "We have been undertaking an extensive exercise of job evaluation over the last three years and this process is nearing an end. We believe the steps we are taking will offer the most effective route for employees to resolve any pay anomalies."