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.

Steve Browne, Corporate Director, Commissioning and Deputy Chief Executive, presented an update on the progress made to date in relation to the downsizing of the council, and sets out the extended time period over which the Council will need to reduce its workforce. The report additionally presented recommendations with respect to further changes to the Council's Redundancy Payments Scheme and highlighted the requirement to commence formal consultation with the recognised Trades Unions in the event that it became necessary to make staff compulsorily redundant.

In presenting the report, it was confirmed that whilst those subject to Compulsory Redundancy (CR) will be able to opt for Voluntary Redundancy (VR) up to their last day of employment, records will be kept to ensure there is accurate reporting to members on the number of staff subject to CR.

Resolved: That:

  i.  Full Council be recommended to agree to the extension of voluntary redundancy terms until 31 March 2018 based on a multiplier of 1.4.

  ii.  the Director of Governance, Finance and Public Services be authorised to issue the necessary statutory notices in respect of the proposals as set out in the report.

  iii.  It be noted that subject to the outcome of formal consultation with the recognised Trade Unions, those employees displaced as part of Phase 1 of the Council's transformation will be served with not less than three months' notice of dismissal on the basis of compulsory redundancy, the dismissals to take effect on 31 March 2016.