Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor Nicholas Bennett J.P. and Councillor Diane Smith.

Councillor Russell Mellor was appointed Chairman of the Committee for 2013/14 with Kathy Smith of the Staff Side appointed as Vice Chairman.

To record any declarations of interest from Members present.

Councillor Colin Smith declared a personal interest by virtue of his daughter being employed by the L B Bromley Library service.

The minutes were agreed.

a  THE COUNCIL’S COMMISSIONING PROPOSALS

The staff side have asked to discuss the market testing processes currently taking place.

The staff side are concerned that the processes are not open and transparent and that in-house services are being ruled out before any testing has been undertaken.

b  ZERO HOURS CONTRACTS

In connection with the debate nationally around Zero Hours Contracts, the staff side have asked for data on any use of such contracts at L B Bromley, including sessional and casual bank staff and the perimeters and procedures that govern their use.

a)  The Council’s Commissioning Proposals

The Staff Side asked that the Committee discuss the market testing processes currently taking place in view of staff side concerns for openness and transparency and a concern that in-house services are being excluded before market testing is undertaken.

The Staff Side Secretary outlined concerns, referring to a need for best value on services. He questioned the extent of transparency with commissioning and referred to the report for Executive on the Commissioning Review of Education Services. He suggested that prior to market testing the Council had taken a pre-determined view on in-house provision with a presumption that services would be outsourced - this before options, costings, and quality of service had been put to Members. He felt there was a lack of consultation and suggested there was no genuine assessment of in-house delivery. 

Councillor Carr emphasised that no dogmatic view being taken. No decisions would be made until soft market testing had been considered along with costs. It was not possible to take matters forward until there was clarity on what others were offering. The Director of HR highlighted a commitment to involving staff although consultation at an early stage might not be possible for some services.

Councillor Smith outlined the benefits of soft market testing to asses how services could best be delivered; and to gauge the extent of available provision to deliver services, given the budgetary saving necessary. It was possible the process could identify a way of delivering services acceptable for all - it was necessary to soft market test to be aware of what might be possible. The Staff Side Secretary indicated that soft market testing could be acceptable, provided a pre-determined view (as he saw it) was not taken beforehand.

Councillor Carr felt that soft market testing was necessary to take matters forward and nothing was being ruled out until this stage.

b)  Zero Hours Contracts 

Concerning the debate nationally around Zero Hours Contracts, the Staff Side asked for data on any use of such contracts at L B Bromley, including sessional and casual bank staff, and the perimeters and procedures governing their use.

The Staff Side Secretary introduced the item and the Director of HR advised that he would be happy to meet the staff side concerning the matter. There were 16 members of staff employed on zero hours contracts but there might be business reasons for doing so. Data was tabled on the number of staff employed according to the contract type under discussion. This is reproduced at Appendix A. The position would be monitored and there would continue to be a challenge from HR on the continued use of zero hours for the 16 staff concerned.

It was indicated that Council staff would be preferable to using high cost agency staff. It was suggested that some workers appreciated working casual hours, some favouring the flexibility. The Staff Side Secretary asserted that employees would not be happy with insecure employment arrangements. The contract types  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

The Committee is requested to note that the next scheduled meeting will be held on 11th December 2013.

The date of the Committee’s next meeting was scheduled for 11th December 2013.