Proposals for changes to staff Terms and Conditions
Bedford Borough Council has started discussions with trade
unions representing staff at the Council to identify changes needed
to staff Terms and Conditions in order to save the council up to
£2million.
The Council, in line with other local authorities, faces
significant challenges in order to produce a balanced budget for
2012/13 as well as meeting savings targets for the next three
years.
On the 15th March 2011 a recommendation to open
negotiations with Trade Unions on a range of potential changes to
Terms and Conditions of Employment was accepted by the General
Purposes Committee. This is the next step in the process of these
negotiations.
The savings identified by changing staff Terms and Conditions
will help towards the Council’s overall total of saving £14million
from the budget for 2012/13.
Philip Simpkins, Chief Executive, Bedford Borough Council, said:
“We have targeted savings between £1.5million and £2million by
changing the Council’s Terms and Conditions of Employment. This
will help to achieve our overall target of saving £14million for
the 2012/13 budget while striving to protect frontline
services.
“It is important to stress that these proposals are a starting
point for consultation with the Council’s Trade Unions and no
decisions have yet been made.
“The Council has an excellent relationship with its Trade Unions
and working in partnership I hope we can come to a position where
changes to Terms and Conditions are achieved via a collective
agreement during the coming year.”
The Council is planning to produce a further report for the
General Purposes Committee on 21st June which will include any
contributions from Trade Union representatives. Following this a
report is expected to be submitted to the Executive on 21st July
and subject to their agreement, a consultation will begin on these
savings.