Issue - meetings

(a)       That the Committee is assured of local policy and practice and its effectiveness in managing such a complex change programme; and

(b)       That the Committee supports the recommendation of Flintshire policy and practice as an exemplar to the Wales Audit Office

The Chief Executive introduced a report to present the internal self-assessment of the Council’s performance in managing the first major programme of workforce reduction against the recommendations of the Wales Audit Office (WAO) in its recent national study of public sector practice and performance. 

                        He detailed the background to the report and explained that the WAO had undertaken a study of how well Councils had managed the practice of people leaving public sector employers through redundancy programmes.  The Chief Executive highlighted recommendation R1 where it was suggested that Flintshire County Council’s policy and practice be recommended to the WAO as an exemplar.  An independent officer panel with Trade Unions had been established and the process of dealing with Voluntary Redundancy applications had been effective.  The summary report included details of early departures from employment by sector which highlighted that the lowest spend (£18,786) on voluntary exits was within Local Government and National Park Authorities for 4.6% of the workforce and the figure for Welsh Government was the highest (£49,983) for 15.3% of the workforce. 

In response to a query from Councillor Richard Jones about enhancement packages offered as part of voluntary redundancy schemes, the Chief Executive explained that some organisations offered enhancements such as ‘added years’ but this did not form part of the package offered by Flintshire County Council.  Any enhancements offered would increase the costs of the packages and the Chief Executive indicated that this could be part of the reason for the relatively higher costs paid within the NHS and civil service.  

            RESOLVED:

(a)       That the Committee is assured of local policy and practice and its effectiveness in managing such a complex change programme; and

(b)       That the Committee supports the recommendation of Flintshire policy and practice as an exemplar to the Wales Audit Office