Further to minute 29 (15 September 2011), the Director of Law, HR and Asset Management presented a detailed outline of the number of posts which were vacated as a result of the Early Voluntary Retirement/Voluntary Severance (EVR/VS) exercise, together with detail in relation to the number of posts which had subsequently been re-filled. However, the figures reflected that the Council was still in the process of implementing various restructures and not all Departments had as yet completed their remodelling, the costs of which were, in the main, funded by a budget of £2m, subject to approval from the Strategic Change Board.

It had been necessary to retain a number of posts to ensure the continuation of service provision and he explained the use of bumps to facilitate the EVR/VS exercise. In view of the remodelling to be completed, a number of posts were still to be deleted and he indicated that of the posts that had been refilled to date, nearly all had been facilitated by bumps, or filled following Departmental restructures. However, he provided an explanation in relation to a number of Metro posts within the Children’s and Young People Department that it had been necessary to fill with new employees.

In total, 104 new posts required to meet essential services changes had been created since the end of the EVR/VS exercise, the costs of which were funded by a £2m budget for re-provision/restructuring (see minute 65 post), although 23 were not linked to the EVR/VS exercise.

Resolved – That the report be noted.