Agenda and minutes

No apologies for absence were received.

Minutes of the meeting held on 25 November 2009

RESOLVED:  

That the Minutes of the Cabinet Meeting held on 12 November 2009 be confirmed as a correct record.

Members and Officers are requested to give notice of any personal or prejudicial interest and the nature of that interest, relating to any item on the agenda in accordance with the relevant Code of Conduct.

It was noted that all of the Officers and Trade Union Representatives present in the room had a personal interest in Minute 228 below in view of the proposals for changes to the Terms and Conditions of Staff set out in the report. All of the Officers and Trade Union Representatives remained in the room during the discussions on the item.

To consider passing the following resolution:

That, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act, 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item(s) of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act.  The Public Interest Test has been applied and favours exclusion of the information from the Press and Public.

RESOLVED:   That

(1)      under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it would involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act.  The Public Interest Test has been applied and favours exclusion of the information from the press and public; and

(2)      the representatives of the Trade Unions be permitted to remain in the meeting during the consideration of Minute 228 below.

Report of the Chief Executive

Further to Minute No. 220 of the meeting held on 25 November 2009, the Cabinet considered the report of the Chief Executive which provided an update on progress made in relation to the Transformation Agenda including the Strategic Budget Review (SBR).  The report also provided an update on the Medium Term Financial Plan forecasts and set out the next steps in relation to progressing the achievement of SBR savings.

A representative of Unison indicated that the Trade Unions wished to avoid the need for compulsory redundancies through the continuation of constructive discussions with Officers on the Strategic Budget Review. The Chief Executive acknowledged the comments made by the Trade Unions with regard to the on-going discussions between Officers and the Trade Unions and the constructive manner in which it was being undertaken.

A discussion then took place on the proposals set out in the report and in accordance with Rule 18.5 of the Council and Committee Procedure Rules, the following Councillors requested that their vote against the proposals for potential redundancies set out in pages 35 to 47 of Appendix B to the report be recorded, namely:

Councillors P. Dowd, Fairclough and Maher.

RESOLVED:   That

(1)      the updated position in relation to the Medium Term Financial Plan be noted;

(2)      Officers be authorised to continue and, if possible, conclude negotiations with Trade Unions on changes to the employment terms and conditions set out in Appendix C to the report;

(3)      the Council, at its meeting on 17 December 2009, be recommended to approve the implementation of the savings items detailed in Appendix B to the report and authorise Officers to implement them with immediate effect;

(4)      the timescales for developing the Integration/Rationalisation Workstreams set out in appendix F to the report be noted;

(5)      the comments made in relation to timely decision making including a review of the Corporate Plan and Corporate Strategy early in 2010/11 municipal year be endorsed;

(6)      the Chief Executive be given delegated authority to agree any further Expressions of Interest for Voluntary Early Retirement/Voluntary Redundancy;

(7)      the response to the issues submitted by Unison at the meeting held on 25 November 2009, as set out in Appendix D to the report be noted; and

(8)      the comments from all Trade Unions with regard to the continuation of constructive discussions with Officers on the Strategic Budget Review be welcomed.