The council yesterday voted unanimously to pay all its staff on permanent or fixed-term contracts at or above the living wage of $20.20 an hour.
However, the move was mostly ceremonial and would have no effect on the budget, as councillors heard such a policy had already been put in place by chief executive Sue Bidrose.
Dr Bidrose said that had been done after a vote by higher-paid staff to forgo part of a wage increase to allow more money to go to the lowest-paid workers.
But the move would mean if she was "hit by a bus" and a new chief executive hired, the policy would continue.
Cr Aaron Hawkins introduced a motion that the council commit to the living wage, request a report to the 2019-20 annual plan on options to include contracted staff in the policy, and consider bringing some services back in-house.
Cr Hawkins said as long as he had been at the council it had received submissions on the issue, but the idea had never been debated.
"I think this is positive for the council in terms of a branding exercise, branding us as a good employer.
"The bonus is that it also makes us a good employer, knowing that our staff have enough money to pay the bills and live a decent life in our community."
Councillors who believed the council had a leadership role on issues residents cared about would support the idea, he said.
Cr Hawkins said the lowest-paid workers at the council tended to be contracted, such as cleaners.
The idea of bringing such work in-house would take time to consider, which was why he had not asked for a report on it until the 2019-20 year.
Cr Lee Vandervis said he could vote for the council to become a living wage employer, but was concerned the plan to bring contracted workers in-house was delving into operational matters.
Deputy mayor Chris Staynes said it was appropriate for a public body to pay a living wage. The minimum wage was well below what it took a family to live, or even a single person.
The council voted unanimously to become a living wage employer, though Cr Vandervis and Cr Doug Hall voted against the motion to call for a report on including contracted staff and considering bringing some services in-house.
