Minutes:
Consideration was given to a report on proposals to establish a Single Management Team to serve Bromsgrove District Council and Redditch Borough Council and to the recommendations of the Shared Services Board thereon held on 8th September 2009.
RECOMMENDED:
(1) that subject to the change of title of the proposed Assistant Chief Executive to “Director of Policy, Performance and 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) that the proposed timetable attached at appendix 5 to the SSB report be approved, together with the ring fencing proposals detailed in the preamble to the SSB minutes of 8th September 2009 (Minute No. 5d final paragraph – Recruitment and Selection Processes refers);
(3) that 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) that 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) that 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) that 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) that 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) that 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) that the preliminary response of the recognised trade unions to the timetable and proposed structure be noted;
(10) that 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) that the sum quoted in the main body of the SSB report be split equally between the two Councils and released from balances to cover the potential costs associated with progressing to a Single Management Team;
(12) that a potential Capitalisation Direction be pursued from the Department of Communities and Local Government;
(13) that 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 Bromsgrove District Council membership be agreed as follows:
CHIEF OFFICER JOINT APPOINTMENT COMMITTEE
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 Advisors” 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 Advisors” (currently Executive Directors and Assistant Chief Executive only [under whatever titles are finally agreed]), to act with full authority on any proposed appointment, in consultation with the Joint Chief Executive.
Membership
3 Members from each Council.
(BDC Members to comprise the Leader, Deputy Leader and the Leader of the Opposition or their nominee).
The Chairman to be elected at the commencement of each meeting of the Committee.
Voting
Each member of the Committee to have one vote; the Chairman to have a second or casting vote.
(14) that the Shared Services Board Concordat be reviewed;
(15) that 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) that 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) that 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) that the need for external support to support both Councils in recruitment to the Single Management Team, be agreed subject to further report;
(19) that 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) that 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.