Issue - meetings

The report updates the Committee on plans to avoid compulsory redundancies arising from the requirement to reduce spending by £29m in the current financial year.

Committee to note the report for information.

The Committee received a report from the Service Director, Human Resources and Workplace, and considered the public forum statement by Steve Paines, Unite in conjunction with this item. The report updated the Committee on plans to avoid compulsory redundancies arising from the requirement to reduce spending by £29m in the current financial year.  The Committee is asked to note the report.

In discussion the following points were made:

1. The speed of implementation had been unsettling for some staff. There had been some delays in the Council responding to voluntary severance applications, many applications had been rejected and there appeared to be a lack of consistency across the departments.

2. Schemes had been introduced to assist staff through this process which included, weekly meetings, a staff options day, careers advice, interview skills. 

3. 650 people had expressed an interest in voluntary severance. 140 applications had been agreed and implemented.  Further reductions were expected between now and next March.  There would be more clarity after the Medium Term Financial Strategy proposals are announced in October.  The Mayor had requested the use of reserves to help plug the funding gap.

4. Central government had delayed implementation of the £95k cap and Treasury guidance on the use of the Full Council waiver had yet to be published.  106 employees in the organisation could be affected.

5. The budget consultation would address the Council’s service provision and inform the future shape of the organisation. There was currently a lot of cost in the middle of the council’s workforce structure.  The cost benefits of outsourcing over in-house provision would need to be challenged through category management and procurement, but was not a one-sided approach and would need to be nuanced to create the biggest impact.

6. Voluntary Severance to be placed on the work programme as a standing item for future meetings. Action: James Brereton

The Committee RESOLVED:

                       (i)         To note the report and actions arising