THE lowest paid council workers in Worcester could be in line for a pay rise - giving them a welcome boost to kick off 2015.

After months of pressure, the leader of Worcester City Council has signalled that staff on the so-called Living Wage can expect a hike of 2.6 per cent early next year.

The move, which would benefit more than 70 employees, comes after the lowest pay grades were upped at the start of this year by the old Labour administration.

At the time, the authority scrapped the minimum wage pay scale and instead offered them a 21 per cent rise on the Living Wage, taking it to £7.65 an hour.

It cost taxpayers £25,000 to implement and under the agreement, is now up for review as part of next year's budget.

The Living Wage, which is calculated independently, has been upped nationally to £7.85 an hour in recent days.

The council has no obligation to increase the payments in line with that, but has now indicated a rise is likely.

Conservative Councillor Simon Geraghty, the leader, says he would be "minded to upgrade" to the new rate subject to a vote at full council in February.

"The Living Wage has been reviewed nationally and the new rate of £7.85 has just been announced over the last few days," he said.

"I have asked the management team to prepare a report on the budgetary implications of this for the council.

"Our long term position is unchanged, we will take a decision on this each and every year, but my personal view is that I would be minded to upgrade in line with the new national rate."

Speaking during a full council meeting last night, he added: "I don't want to pre-determine anything and move away from that established position.

"But my personal view is that we should up the rates.

"I would say it's an issue for all (councillors) to take a view on as part of the budget process, that's the right thing to do."

The budget for 2014/15 is being voted on by all parties in February.

Cllr Geraghty, was responding to a question from Green Councillor Neil Laurenson, who is pushing for it to be upped.

The Living Wage is calculated by a panel of academics, and differs from the minimum wage, in that employers have no legal obligation to pay it.