Agenda item

The Assistant Director of Human Resources and Development presented a report to the Committee, which provided information on the detail of the changes that were being proposed to terms and conditions of employment, subject to the approval of the 2016/17 budget by Full Council on 9 March 2016. The report further sought Employment Committee’s agreement, subject to a Collective Agreement being reached with the Unions, that the honorarium policy would be withdrawn from 31 March 2016, and that no further honorariums would be paid during 2016/17.

The Assistant Director of Human Resources and Development advised that the outcome of the trade unions ballot was not to support the proposed changes to the terms and conditions of employment. As such, further negotiations would be required. The recommendation, however, in relation to employee terms and conditions was to note the details of the changes.

The Committee discussed the report and raised several key points:

·      It was noted that there had been a low number of voters in the trade unions’ ballot,

·      Confirmation was provided that a skeleton staff, for vital roles, would be in place during the proposed officer closure,

·      It was noted that employees would be able to claim tax relief on the proposed car mileage rates,

·      It was suggested that the effected staff were not happy with the proposed changes,

·      The Human Resources Advisor noted that, in terms of the withdrawal of the honorarium payment, this had been suggested by the trade unions themselves,

·      Concern was raised that the proposed changes to the terms and conditions of employment would alienate the staff who were meant to be implementing savings, and

·      The Human Resources Advisor advised that the next steps in relation to reaching an agreement with the trade unions on the proposed terms and conditions was to escalate the discussion to the union secretaries. Failing this, staff would have to be dismissed, then re-engaged.

 A motion was proposed and seconded to note the detail of the changes that were being proposed to terms and conditions of employment, subject to the approval of the 2016/17 budget by Full Council on 9 March 2016, and to agree, subject to a Collective Agreement being reached with the Unions, that the honorarium policy would be withdrawn from 31 March 2016, and that no further honorariums would be paid during 2016/17. This motion was carried unanimously.

A Member of the Committee questioned whether a Collective Agreement had been reached with the trade unions, in relation to the withdrawal of the honorarium policy. The Assistant Director of Human Resources and Development advised that a formal agreement had not been reached, however, as the proposal had originated from the trade unions, it was not envisioned that any problems would arise. The proposals would be put before the trade unions

Councillor Khan wished it to be noted that he did not support the specific wording of the resolution in relation to the honorarium policy, as he felt the status of the Unions’ Collective Agreement was unclear.

RESOLVED that Employment Committee:

1.   Noted the detail of the changes that were being proposed to terms and conditions of employment, subject to the approval of the 2016/17 budget by Full Council on 9 March 2016; and

2.   Agreed, subject to a Collective Agreement being reached with the Unions, that the honorarium policy would be withdrawn from 31 March 2016, and that no further honorariums would be paid during 2016/17.

Reasons for the decision:

The proposed changes to employee terms and conditions of service were necessary in order for the Council to meet its savings targets over the next 3 years.