Decision details

(i)        to note the contents of the Service Improvement Plans for 2017/18;

(ii)       to note the decision of Council on 2 March 2016, which stated;

“Council notes the Conservative Government is proposing a Trade Union Bill that will restrict the ability of this Council to engage in good industrial relations practices with our workforce and their representatives.

Council believes the collection of union dues through the check-off arrangement, from which the Council receives income, is part of the Council’s collective and contractual arrangements with the trades unions, which the Council will defend and support.

Council commits not to use agency staff to break or weaken industrial action and to continue to support arrangements that afford trade union representatives sufficient resources to enable them to carry out their functions to ensure the continuation of good industrial relations.

Council instructs the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills stating the Council’s opposition to this Bill, any attacks on facility time or check off and to demand that the income which will be lost to the Council, should this draconian Bill be passed, is reimbursed.”

(iii)       to note the critical issues highlighted in the HR and Customer Service, Service Plan, Appendix 2, PESTLE analysis that will influence the plan together with the significance and potential impact on employment legislation of the Trade Union Act 2016 and its impact on industrial relations with employee representative bodies; and

(iv)      to reaffirm the opposition of elected members to this legislation.