Agenda item

(Support Services Portfolio Holder) To consider the attached report (C-083-2013/14).

(1)        That the Christmas/New Year Staff Leave arrangements for 2014/15 be agreed as set out in the proposed schedule at Appendix 1 of the report;

(2)        That the Christmas/New Year Staff Leave arrangements for future years be considered by the Joint Consultative Committee, following consultation with residents and Members; and

(3)        That a report be considered by the Joint Consultative Committee on the Christmas/New Year Staff Leave arrangements for future years by no later than 1 November 2014.

The Portfolio Holder for Support Services presented a report concerning the staffing arrangements for future Christmas and New Year periods.

The Portfolio Holder stated that the current arrangements for the closure of the Civic Offices building during the Christmas and New Year period had ended in 2013/14. Consultation had taken place with staff and Management Board; both strongly supported the continuation of the arrangements. Management Board also supported the continuation of the arrangements for the next five years.

The Portfolio Holder reported that the number of telephone calls to the main Council switchboard, had reduced by 65% during the Christmas week and by 44% during the New Year week, when compared with the levels experienced during the first week of December. There were a range of services that the public could access during this period, for both emergencies and normal day-to-day service delivery, and the new out-of-hours arrangements with Mears would begin in the near future. Due to the improvements to the Civic Offices regarding lighting and heating over the previous three years, the financial savings to the Council from closing the Civic Offices for a week or so were no longer a decisive factor.

The Portfolio Holder added that across Essex some Councils opened and some Councils closed during this period, and the majority of Councils made decisions on an annual basis regarding their arrangements for this period. A report regarding future arrangements had been submitted to the January 2014 meeting of the Joint Consultative Committee. However, no recommendations were agreed and the Cabinet was requested to consider this matter further.

The Secretary of the local Unison branch drew the Cabinet’s attention to the comments that had been made in support of the Staff proposals at the meeting of the Joint Consultative Committee, as detailed in paragraphs 18 to 23 of the report. It was emphasised that if only the arrangements for 2014/15 were agreed then the Union would begin negotiations for 2015/16 again in a matter of months.

The Housing Portfolio Holder explained that the counter proposal suggested at the meeting of the Joint Consultative Committee was for the arrangements for 2014/15 to be agreed, and then review the situation for future years. It was acknowledged that Staff had grown accustomed to the extended break, and that they had had to endure a three-year pay freeze followed by a below inflation 1% pay rise this year. However, there had been no general consultation with Members about whether the current situation should continue, and it was felt important to ascertain the views of residents as well. Therefore, the Housing Portfolio Holder was proposing that the arrangements for 2014/15 be agreed and the arrangements for future years be reviewed by the Joint Consultative Committee on an annual basis, following consultation with Councillors and residents.

The Portfolio Holder for Support Services reiterated that the only options considered by the Joint Consultative Committee was to agree the arrangements for either one year or five years in to the future. The Cabinet noted the excellent relations with the Unions and staff, and that the current arrangements were popular, however it was felt that the situation for future years should be reviewed and the comments of Members and residents be sought. It was suggested that a report on this issue should be considered by the Joint Consultative Committee before 1 November 2014.

Decision:

(1)        That the Christmas/New Year Staff Leave arrangements for 2014/15 be agreed as set out in the proposed schedule at Appendix 1 of the report;

(2)        That the Christmas/New Year Staff Leave arrangements for future years be considered by the Joint Consultative Committee, following consultation with residents and Members; and

(3)        That a report be considered by the Joint Consultative Committee on the Christmas/New Year Staff Leave arrangements for future years by no later than 1 November 2014.

Reasons for Decision:

To enable the arrangements for future Christmas/New Year periods to be considered.

Other Options Considered and Rejected:

To substitute other arrangements and/or amend the length of the schedule.