Otley is aiming to lead the way after the Town Council agreed to become a Living Wage employer.

The council already pays staff more than the recommended living wage, which is currently £7.45 per hour – £1.26 more than the minimum wage – but a resolution agreed on Monday means the council is now committed to paying a living wage to any future employees while ensuring contractors do the same.

Council leader Councillor John Eveleigh, addressing the policy and resources committee, said: “This is a commitment that all future arrangements with staff will include paying above the living wage.

“That includes people we contract. We would expect staff carrying out those duties for us to be paid the living wage too.

“There's growing support for this across the political parties, but I imagine we’ll be one of the first town or parish councils to have signed up to this.”

Speaking after the meeting he said: “We want to show leadership by setting an example for other employers in the town. We believe the minimum wage doesn't pay enough to support a family. In contrast, the living wage provides fair and respectable pay for honest, hard work.

“This isn't an empty gesture for us – it will actually cost us several thousand pounds a year to implement – but we believe it’s the right thing to do.”

The living wage will apply to four, part time employees the council will take on to this year to look after the Orchard Gate toilets once a £78,000 rebuild is complete.