Decision details

Further to Minute No. 189 of the meeting held on 29 October 2009, the Cabinet considered the report of the Chief Executive which provided an update on progress made in relation to the Voluntary Early Retirement / Voluntary Redundancy (VER/VR) exercise and the progress of the Strategic Budget Review options.

The Cabinet also considered a note produced by Unison in response to issues set out in the report and the Chief Executive and Personnel Director responded to questions from Cabinet Members on the content of the note. The Chief Executive indicated that the issues set out in the note would be considered during the Strategic Budget Review

This was a Key Decision and was included in the Council’s Forward Plan of Key Decisions.

RESOLVED:   That

(1)      the progress made in developing the Transformation Programme and the Strategic Budget Review be noted;

(2)      all Phase 1 VER/VR Expressions of Interest be formally progressed with a termination date of 31 March 2010;

(3)      action be taken where staff have asked for an earlier termination date, subject to mutual agreement on the waiving of Notice.  Payment will not be made in lieu of Notice;

(4)      the Phase 2 VER/VR Expressions of Interest be formally progressed in the most expeditious manner;

(5)      further Expressions of Interest in VER/VR be sought from all staff emphasising that there will be no enhancement of redundancy or pension terms in the future;

(6)      it be accepted that compulsory redundancies would be required, as part of a range of measures, to bridge the budget gap in 2010/11 and future years, and Officers be instructed to expedite the actions necessary to identify any staff members at risk of compulsory redundancy who are in the 50-55 year old age bracket, by 1 April 2010; and

(7)      a special Cabinet meeting be held on 3 December 2009, commencing at 10.00 a.m. in Bootle Town Hall, in order to progress these issues in a timely manner.