Decision details

At its meeting held on 20 February 2014 the Full Council agreed to Cabinet's recommendation proposing changes to the Council's Voluntary Redundancy package over a four year period from 1 April 2014 to 31 March 2018 for the purpose of achieving a reduction in employee costs in the order of £75 million.

The changes agreed which are now incorporated within the Council Redundancy Payments Scheme were agreed on the basis of an ambition to achieve the necessary downsizing of the Council by voluntary means subject to sufficient volunteers coming forward whose application could be agreed based on business need.

This report provides an update on the progress made to date and sets out the extended time period over which the Council will need to reduce its workforce. It also makes recommendations with respect to further changes to the Council's Redundancy Payments Scheme and to commence formal consultation with the recognised Trades Unions in the event that it becomes necessary to make staff compulsorily redundant.

The Committee considered a report on the progress made to date in relation to the downsizing of the council.  The report also set out the extended time period over which the Council would need to reduce its workforce.

It was noted that the report proposed further changes to the Council's Redundancy Payments Scheme and the requirement to commence formal consultation with the recognised Trades Unions in the event that it became necessary to make staff compulsorily redundant was also highlighted.

Resolved: That the recommendations set out in the report to Cabinet be noted, and that no additional comments or suggested alternative recommendations be made.