Agenda item

To receive the report of the Director of Urban Environment detailing the results of consultation on the proposals on the restructuring of the Environmental Crime Service to create a new Street Enforcement Service.

The Committee received the report on the results of consultation to proposals on the restructuring of the Environmental Crime Service to create a new Street Enforcement Service.  At its meeting on the 10^th March 2009 the General Purposes Committee approved restructuring proposals subject to consultation results. 

The Committee noted that overall responses to the consultation had been positive and constructive with the main areas of concern being around the unsociable hours staff would be required to work in return for a 10% supplement.  Mr Robin Payne, Head of Enforcement, highlighted that responses showed staff felt that a 10% supplement was not sufficient and had raised concerns about the training and health and safety implications of working unsociable hours.  Mr Payne explained that staff training days would be planned and would mean the service would not be operational during training sessions.

In response to questioning from the Committee Mr Payne explained that the 10% supplement for unsociable hours was the maximum amount payable for single-status. The Service expected an area based grant to fund the additional costs but if funding was not provided the cost would be covered by the Service.  Employing additional weekend staff, instead of changing the hours of current workers, would create a two tier system and there was not the volume of staff to enable this.  There would be a total of 23 Street Enforcement staff plus a Dog Warden. There would be a loss of three unwarranted Street Wardens posts. In terms of pay scales, six officers at the top of the existing P01 grade would see a difference of £1400 less in their salaries but the 10% supplement for unsociable hours would mean staff would not lose out financially.  The Service was in discussions with the Human Resources Team to consider raising officers to grade P02.  Posts would be evaluated on a consistent basis and any shifts in grades would have an impact on budget plans.

Committee Members asked what the equalities implications of the restructure were.  Mr Payne explained that an Equalities Impact Assessment (EIA) would be conducted in September 2009 but the main equalities concerns arising from consultation were surrounding people with carer and family commitments and work-life balance.

With regard to the proposed two team structure the Committee raised concerns that the North and West area was large compared to the South and commented that there would be different needs in different areas of the borough.  Mr Payne explained that consideration was given to aligning the Street Enforcement Service Teams with the Children’s Network Areas but funding resources would not enable three enforcement teams to be set up.  The new set up of the teams was based on enforcement intelligence and evidence of where there were problems but the intention was to retain flexibility when required and to have named contacts for each ward.  Committee Members asked that Ward Councillors be given contact details of the named Enforcement Officer for their areas.

A late written response to the consultation from John Snelling, Union representative, was tabled and included concerns about evening and weekend working, lack of flexibility of the structure to cope with annual leave and sickness, prospects of training for staff.  Mr Payne informed the Committee that the points raised by Mr Snelling would be responded to. 

RESOLVED

That the consultation undertaken and the comments from the Union be noted and the proposed steps for introducing a Street Enforcement Service that will replace the existing Environmental Crime Service be agreed.