To consider the report of the Head of Leisure and Museums regarding the funding programme for Renaissance in the Regions and changes to staff numbers.
Scrutiny Committee – Community will consider the report at their meeting on 4 March 2008 and their comments will be reported.
(Report circulated to Members)
Minutes:
The Director Corporate Services declared a personal interest as his fiancée is employed at the Royal Albert Memorial Museum and left the meeting during consideration of the item.
The report of the Head of Leisure and Museums was submitted, advising Members of reductions in the Renaissance in the Regions funding programme, and seeking approval for resultant changes to staff numbers.
Scrutiny Committee – Community on 4 March 2008 had considered the report. Executive noted and considered the request of the Committee that the post of Assistant Curator World Cultures CE12161 should be retained in view of the importance of the ethnography collection.
Councillor Newcombe attended the meeting and spoke under Standing Order 44 in support of the retention of the post of Assistant Curator World Cultures CE12161. In addition to the loss of the skills and experience of the particular postholder, she was concerned that the deletion of the post would send out a negative message in relation to this internationally important collection. She conveyed the view of the postholder that there was still work to be undertaken in relation to the collection.
The Director Community and Environment explained the background to the Renaissance in the Region funding programme and the need to make savings in the forthcoming financial year. She reported that the process of deciding which staff should be selected for redundancy had been extremely difficult but had been undertaken in a logical and transparent way and in full consultation with the trade unions. She advised members that legislation now required that temporary staff were entitled to the same protection as permanent staff. The post of Assistant Curator World Cultures had been selected on the basis that the World Cultures collection had already benefited from major investment, and expertise and experience of the other three collection categories was at a greater premium. The posts were not inter-changeable due to their extremely specialist nature and discussions had been offered in relation to transferable skills. Furthermore the World Cultures collection was to be mothballed within the existing building and would be considerably less accessible.
Whilst regretting the need to make posts redundant, members considered that the process for selection had been logical and reflected the Museums development needs.
RESOLVED that:-
(1) the employment of the holders of the posts listed in paragraph 4.2 of the report be not renewed, or terminated as appropriate, on the 31 March 2008 with the holders paid, where relevant, a compensation payment in accordance with the discretion exercised by the Council under the provisions of the Local Government (Early Termination) (Discretionary Compensation) (England and Wales) Regulations 2006 with a payment also made in respect of any notice period due to the employee at 31 March 2008;
(2) the resultant posts be deleted from the establishment of the Council;
(3) all other museum posts on temporary Renaissance funded contracts, as identified in Appendix I of the report, have those contracts extended to 31 March 2009 and contracts funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) be extended to 31 March 2010 unless otherwise indicated.
(4) the temporary post of part time cleaner, CE121001 be made permanent.
In accordance with Standing Order 43, Councillor P Smith requested that his name be recorded as having voted against the resolution.
(Report circulated to Members)