Local authority job offer - negotiation of pay etc

Clownfish68

Hi everyone looking for advice. I’ve been offered a job with a Local authority in their planning department. 

I have 9 years experience under my belt in the private sector but the job I’m in is unsustainable and in all honesty redundancies are likely to be on the horizon in the next 6-12 months (I’ve survived two rounds already but doubt I’d survive a third as we are pretty thin as it is now). 

The job will be a breeze from the level of work/hours I have to put in within a 20 minute drive rather than the 3 hour daily commute I have to put up with. The managers seem great but the pay is 10k below what I’m currently earning (38k) and with the state of inflation/energy prices etc I’m worried how the reduced income would effect our finances as my other half works part time looking after our daughter. Essentially job is much more secure though. 

My private sector pension is abysmal so I was initially planning on increasing payments at the start of the year but due to energy prices have held off. Being a member of the LGPS would put me in good stead to build up a healthy pension pot as I’ve always wanted to work public sector anyway and in theory would balance out in terms of salary offered and what I would need to contribute towards private sector pay. 

My real question is the band and negotiation. Will an LPA be willing to negotiate salary. I’ve been placed in the top band for the role and salary range is 27.5 -29.5. They’ve offered 28200 so ideally I want to get to around 29k minimum. Do you think a local authority would be willing to negotiate and if so any tips. They seem pretty desperate for officers I should be applying for senior roles as they are getting a good deal based on my experience level 

marcia_

 In my experience council's don't negotiate except for senior mangers. You are put in a pay band and that's where you stay unless you apply for a higher role.