Agenda and minutes

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Prior to consideration of the following item, Depute Provost Dunbar and Councillors Farquharson, Fletcher, Kiddie, Laing, McCaig and John West declared interests as members of the Council’s Appeals Committee; Councillors Ironside, Kiddie, Kevin Stewart and Yuill declared interests as members of Unison; and Councillors Crockett and Young declared interests as members of Unite.  None of the members felt it necessary to leave the meeting during the Council’s deliberations.

Depute Provost Dunbar advised that the following item of business would be considered with the Press and public excluded.

Councillor Young moved as a procedural motion, seconded by Councillor Laing:-

            That the report be considered with the press and public in attendance.

On a division, there voted:-

For the procedural motion  (10)  -  Councillors Adam, Allan, Cassie, Collie, Cooney, Crockett, Donnelly, Ironside, Laing and Young.

Against the procedural motion  (25)  -  Depute Provost Dunbar;  and Councillors Boulton, Corall, Cormie, Farquharson, Fletcher, Greig, Jaffrey, Kiddie, Leslie, McCaig, McDonald, Malone, May, Milne, Noble, Penny, Robertson, Jennifer Stewart, John Stewart, Kevin Stewart, Wendy Stuart, John West, Kirsty West and Yuill.

The Council resolved:-

to reject the procedural motion and thereby consider the following item of business with the press and public excluded.

EXEMPT INFORMATION

            The Council resolved in terms of Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 to exclude the press and public from the meeting during consideration of the following item of business so as to avoid disclosure of exempt information of the class described in paragraph 11 of Schedule 7(A) to the Act.

With reference to Article 9 of the minute of meeting of the Council of
18^th August, 2010, the Council had before it a report by the Director of Corporate Governance which provided updated information on discussions and sought approval of the arrangements made through ACAS to resolve issues relating to the payment to staff of the 2010 increment.

The report explained that following the Council’s decision on 18^th August, 2010, officers held further discussions with trades unions and two further offers were made to seek to resolve the outstanding dispute.  The report explained that it was felt by all sides that agreement was close but there were issues that could not be resolved, therefore, the employer sought the assistance of ACAS in securing an agreement on the outstanding increment issue.

The report explained that during the discussions it was recognised by both sides that a more radical approach to meeting the financial challenges ahead would be needed and with the assurances that a longer term financing arrangement was required it was proposed that the increment be paid in full from April, 2010.

The report explained that as part of the package of measures, both sides agreed to:-

• enter into immediate and meaningful discussion on all local terms and conditions;
• discuss incremental progression criteria based on attendance and performance with a view to these being applied from 1^st April, 2011; and
• discuss a head count reduction strategy.

Appended to the report was the formal agreement reached between the employer and the trade unions.

The report recommended:-

that the Council approve the implementation of the agreement reached between the employer and the trade unions, facilitated by ACAS, as detailed at Appendix 1 to the report.

The Council resolved:-

(i)         to suspend Standing Order 22(1) in order to alter its previous decision of 18^th August, 2010; and

(ii)        to approve the recommendation contained in the report.

- JACQUELINE DUNBAR, Depute Provost.