Issue - meetings

The committee to consider proposals for the restructure of  Recreation Services following consultation. Report to follow

The Committee considered proposals for the reshaping of Recreation services.  These proposals were intended to tackle base budget pressure, support service externalisation and contribute to achieving an agreed budget saving of 2.7m over the next 3 years. They would result in the reduction of 50 posts in the service this would leave a majority of staff (145.3FTE) in Operational services, 13 FTE in Client service and 12FTE in Commissioning services. The Assistant Director of Recreation Services explained that he was seeking to keep the number of staff displaced and subject to compulsory redundancy to a minimum. Currently there were 14 posts in this situation but efforts were being made to enable them to take voluntary redundancy/recruitment to remaining vacancies.   Paragraph 11 was refereed to which set out the consultation methods used and the key changes made to the proposals following the consultation process. 

It was highlighted to the Committee that the significant changes to the structure of Recreation Services were the reductions to the Parks area due to decease in funding. The staffing structure for the Parks service going forward was illustrated with the following changes highlighted.

• There would be two operational areas each with a Manager, Assistant Manager and 4 Team Leaders. Each of these operational areas would have 3 generic Operational Zones/Teams , with a Team Leader, senior operative and 4 Operatives (36 staff in total) .Furthermore each operational area would lead a taskforce team , with a borough wide remit, and a Team Leader with 6 operational operatives. These teams would cover hygiene; gate locking, gang mowing, tree works and machinery, play and general maintenance.

• It was noted that the teams would operate out of 6 depots and use 5 sub depots. There would be four depots shared with Veolia, whilst a further 4 would exclusively used by Veolia.

Following consultation with staff, there were changes made as further staff had come forward with voluntary redundancy requests.  These included: a management selection process being chosen instead of an interview selection process for Parks operational staff, use of slotting in as opposed to closed ring fences used where there was found to be no net reduction in staff and depot, the selection of the Broadwater Farm Community Development Officer post  was  to be appointed through a closed ring fence instead of an open ring fence and 2 vacant  apprentice gardener posts had been deleted. The Committee noted that  the service were  examining alternative employment opportunities for 3  female black and ethnic minority staff  working at the catering section of Tottenham Green Centre who were identified in the Equalities Impact Assessment was facing an unequal impact as a result of the restructure.

Following this information the Committee were asked to consider the recommendations at paragraph 3 and agree them.

The Committee expressed concerns at the reductions in Park staff and in particular pointed to one of the overriding aims of the Council which was to protect frontline services and questioned whether this was being adhered to given  ...  view the full minutes text for item 153