Oxford City Council recorded a 0 per cent gender pay gap this year - but females were paid more in bonuses. 

Meanwhile the new report shows that the number of staff receiving bonuses has increased significantly: 84.6 per cent of males and 82.7 per cent of females were given bonuses, compared with 45.5 per cent and 42.3 per cent last year.

The authority's latest gender pay gap data shows that the median gender pay gap (on basic pay) is 0 per cent. On another measure - the mean - the gap is 0.7 per cent in favour of females. 

The mean gender bonus gap was 6.3 per cent in favour of women this year, which the council say is due to 'a commission payment to one female member of staff.' The median was 0 per cent.

READ MORE: Last year's report

A BBC analysis in Fenruary said four in 10 private companies were reporting wider gaps than they did last year.

Local authorities with more than 250 employees are required by law to publish an annual gender pay gap report that provides details of three key measures; basic pay, bonus and the proportion of males and females receiving a bonus.

The Council’s first gender pay gap report was published last year and provided information up to 31 March 2017.

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The new report, for the year ending 31 March 2018, shows one notable change - in the median bonus pay gap, which was 19.5 per cent in favour of men last year.

Councillor Nigel Chapman, Board Member for Customer Focused Services, said: "Oxford City Council remains in a positive position when it comes to differences in rates of pay for men and women. We have a strong commitment to making sure that all of our staff are paid the correct rate and that no discrimination exists based on gender."