To consider the recommendations arising from the meeting of the Shared Services Board held on 8th September 2009.
(In view of the fact that it contains information relating to individuals, which might reveal the identity of individuals and also contemplated consultations or negotiations in connection with labour relations matters arising between the authority and employees of the authority, this report is confidential and has been circulated to Members and relevant Officers only.)
(Minutes attached – Report to the Shared Services Board circulated to Members under separate cover)
Minutes:
The Council
considered and approved detailed proposals for a single team of
Officers to manage both Redditch and Bromsgrove Councils.
The report, and subsequent debate, was considered in confidential
session in view of the fact that information relating to individual
Officers and their financial affairs, together with labour
relations matters still under negotiation, was to be discussed. It
was agreed that as full as possible a public record be provided, as
soon as possible after the meetings of both Redditch and Bromsgrove Councils had taken
place. The following is the full list
of decisions taken at the meeting:
The Council AGREED that
1) subject to the change of title of the proposed Assistant Chief Executive to ‘Director of Policy, Performance & Partnerships’, the proposed Single Management Structure attached at Appendix 3 to the Shared Services Board (SSB) report be adopted for formal consultation with the affected staff and trade unions;
2) the proposed Timetable attached at Appendix 5 to the SSB report be approved, together with the Ringfencing proposals detailed in the preamble to the SSB minutes of the 8th September 2009 (Minute 5 d) final paragraph - Recruitment and Selection Processes refers *);
3) the proposal to seek volunteers from the directly affected staff in the first instance for Voluntary Compulsory Redundancy / Early Retirement, in order to minimise the number of Compulsory Redundancies, be approved;
4) the proposal to make a payment, subject to consultation with the affected staff and trade unions, of pay in lieu of notice (PILON) to anyone unsuccessful in securing a post on the Single Management Team be approved, for the reasons outlined at section 13.12 of the SSB report, from 30th March 2010;
5) the proposed salary levels of the Single Management Team posts, as independently evaluated and outlined at paragraph 4.16 of the SSB report, be approved; all new posts to have an incremental salary range, with progression subject to satisfactory performance;
6) it be noted that independent advice on outstanding job evaluation to existing members of the Corporate Management Team for Redditch Borough Council has been sought and the potential impact on severance costs also be noted;
7) it be noted that the offer of employment contracts to members of the Single Management Team may need to be provisional because of the more detailed work on terms and conditions that is required;
8) the potential need for the application of salary protection, where displaced members of the existing management teams may be redeployed into lower level posts within the proposed new structure, be noted;
9) the preliminary response of the recognised trade unions to the timetable and proposed structure be noted;
10) the projected savings of £1.282m over the 5 year period arising as a result of the Single Management Team proposals be noted and endorsed;
11) the sum quoted in the main body of the SSB report be split between the two Councils and released from balances to cover the potential costs associated with progressing to a Single Management Team;
12) a potential Capitalisation direction be pursued from the Department of Communities and Local Government;
13) a Joint Appointments Committee be appointed, comprising three members of each Council for proposed new posts reporting directly to the Joint Chief Executive; and that Terms of Reference and Redditch Borough Council membership be agreed as follows:
"CHIEF OFFICER JOINT APPOINTMENT COMMITTEE"
(RBC) Approved Terms of Reference
In accordance with the Councils’ Constitutions (including the Officer Employment Procedure Rules) and relevant approved employment policies, to deal with all processes in connection with the recruitment of "Chief Officers, Deputy Chief Officers and Political Advisers" other than those specifically reserved to the full Councils or delegated to the Joint Chief Executive / Joint Head of Paid Service; and
A. in the case of the Head of Paid Service, to make recommendations to the Council on any proposed appointment; and
B. in the case of other "Chief Officers, Deputy Chief Officers or Political Advisers" (currently Executive Directors and Assistant Chief Executive only [under whatever titles are finally agreed]), to act with full authorityon any proposed appointment, in consultation with the Joint Chief Executive.
Membership
3 members from each Council.
(RBC
members to comprise the Leaders of the 3 Party Groups:
Cllr Gandy (Cons), Cllr Hartnett (Lab)
and Cllr Hall (LD).
At least one of the above Members from each Council to be also a member of the Council's Executive Committee / Cabinet.
The Chair(man) to be elected at the commencement of each meeting of the Committee.
Voting
Each member of the Committee to have one vote; the Chair(man) to have a second or casting vote.
14) the Shared Services Board Concordat be reviewed;
15) the Executive Director (Section 151 Officer) and Head of Legal Equalities and Democratic Services be designated as each Council’s Section 151 Officer and Monitoring Officer respectively;
16) a conflicts management policy be created; and authority delegated to the Joint Chief Executive to prepare this, in consultation with both Councils’ statutory officers, subject to further report;
17) an overarching shared services agreement be created to enable the Officers of one authority to deliver services on behalf of the other authority, subject to further report;
18) the need for external support to support both Councils in recruitment to the Single Management Team, be agreed subject to further report;
19) the support mechanisms
(outlined at paragraph 13.2 of the SSB report) that are proposed to
support affected staff throughout this period, be agreed;
and
20) further
harmonisation of the two Councils’ Terms and Conditions of
employment be sought, subject to appropriate staff and Trade Union
consultation, and further reports to both authorities.
(In view of his previously declared personal interest in matters relating to Officer salaries, Chief Executive Mr Dicks left the room while discussion took place on this matter.)
(Labour Group voting was, on Labour Members’ requisition, recorded as follows:
Recommendations 1), 5) and 10) – Labour
Group opposed;
Recommendations 2), 11) and 12) – Labour Group
abstained.
Other 14 recommendations supported by Labour Group.)
(Appendices 1 to 5 of the Shared Services Board report attached.)
(During the consideration of this item, Members discussed matters that necessitated the disclosure of exempt information. It was therefore agreed to move to exclude the press and public prior to any debate on the grounds that information would be revealed relating to contemplated consultations or negotiations in connection with labour relations matters between the authority and employees of the authority, disclosure of which was not considered to be in the public’s best interests.
There is nothing exempt, however, in this record of the proceedings.)