Agenda item

Report DHR15005

The report set out proposals for restructuring the current employee representation arrangements. It was proposed to end secondments of staff into representational roles (the staff-side secretary and trade union roles) and to review the role and structure of the Departmental Representatives Forum.

The Chairman invited Glenn Kelly, Staff-side Secretary, to address the Committee. He criticised the Council for planning to silence the voice of its workers and doing this at precisely the time of greatest crisis when representation was needed most. Bromley was the only borough taking this approach and would be failing in its statutory role. He accepted that it might be reasonable for the borough to offer to pay for only three or four days per week, with the Unions picking up the remainder of the costs, but even this was not being offered. Questioned by Members, Mr Kelly emphasised that the Council currently paid for time off for trade union duties, not trade union activities, and that withdrawing this would be illegal.

The Chairman invited Kathy Smith to address the Committee. She argued that the consultation was flawed as it was restricted to Trade Union and Departmental Representatives and the report was biased, leaving out any downsides to the proposals. Councillors and chief officers had previously stated that they valued the representatives and their ability to defuse problems, but the proposals would leave staff feeling abandoned without proper representation. In particular, it would lead to greater disruption and costs as she would be frequently called away from her work in the Library Service. She asked whether service managers had been consulted about this, and was informed that they had been. 

The Director of Human Resources argued that the law required employers to allow time off for trade union duties but not for trade union activities, and did not require the Council to employ or second representatives, only to provide reasonable support. Bromley had very generous representation arrangements and other organisations such as the Civil Service were taking similar measures to Bromley. In the current financial crisis no part of the organisation could be exempt from review.

The Committee discussed the proposals. Some Members considered that employees should pay for representation through their trade union subscriptions, not Council Tax payers. They agreed that the current arrangements needed to be updated.

One member argued that although it was reasonable to reduce the costs of representation as staff numbers declined there was scope for negotiation with staff on these proposals. The representatives were particularly important to staff at a time great change, and their removal would be unlikely to save costs.   

The Chairman invited Mr Kelly and Ms Smith to make a closing statement before the Committee came to its decision. Mr Kelly emphasised that the majority of his time was spend representing individual staff members and that it would be impractical to do this while carrying out another full time role. Ms Smith emphasised the chaos that would arise in departments as staff representatives would frequently be called away from their substantive roles and called for a proper negotiation.

RESOLVED that

(1) The secondments of staff into the roles of Staff Side Secretary and Trade Union Representative cease and the current staff undertaking these roles return to their substantive positions within the Council, with adequate support and training if required.

(2) The current arrangements for Departmental Staff Representatives within the Council be reviewed to reflect the reduced workforce and realignment or reduction of services in line with the proposed arrangements set out in paragraphs 3.12 to 3.15 in the report.

(3) Subject to (1)  above, it is noted that the Council will continue to provide reasonable support including paid time off for legitimate trade union duties in a balanced way taking into account service delivery issues. 

(Councillor Angela Wilkins requested that her vote against the recommendations be recorded.)