Councils and Trade Unions agree key principles for collaboration
22 July 2011
The South West Wales Trade Union Consultative Committee (SWWTUCC), a forum for communication between South West Wales councils and Trade Unions, has agreed a set of principles for regional collaboration amnongst Councils, the first of it’s kind in Wales.
Recognising the acceleration in the pace of council collaboration, and the need for workforce involvement, the Committee has agreed eight principles which will ensure Trade Union engagement in regional collaborative projects. These principles are listed in the notes to editors.
Cllr Ali Thomas (Neath Port Talbot), Chair of the Committee said:
‘The Consultative Committee has been meeting regularly since 2008 as a forum for consultation with Trade Union representatives from across the South West Wales about regional collaborative projects and services.’
‘There is a recognition that we must progress the collaboration agenda in partnership and that the Trade Unions themselves can be the seed bed for new ideas around collaboration as ideas from the staff on the front line of service delivery are likely to be ones that will succeed.’
Glyn Jones, UNISON said:
‘The trade unions involved within the South West Wales regions are pleased to be working in partnership with the councils to deliver service quality and value for money in the public services they provide. These principles provide the platform for continuing engagement to ensure that any future changes to services deliver the right result for the public and the workforce that provide them.’
Ends
Notes to editors
Set of key principles
The Consultative Committee recognises that EIA (Equality Impact Assessment) should be carried out on any proposals
1. Councils are committed to continuing to deliver services in-house where there are demonstrable benefits in terms of service quality and value for money. In house services will be afforded a timely opportunity to submit a business case for their continuation.
2. ‘In-House’ can either be alone, or in collaboration with one or more other Councils.
3. It is recognised that Councils need to test that services are delivering best value. Trade Unions should be involved in that testing, and that all parties recognise quality assurance and Best Value testing need not be crude marketplace assessment but a process which utilises best practise from across the country and facilitated by organisations such as APSE.
4. It is also recognised that reductions in services within individual Councils may raise the importance of testing value, and considering collaboration.
5. Where such tests pose concerns, collaboration with other Councils should, where possible, be explored before alternative methods of service delivery are considered.
6. Where collaboration is being explored, the Trade Unions from the relevant Councils will be involved together.
7. Collaboration between Councils and other public bodies may also be tested as being appropriate for local service delivery.
8. Trade Unions should be involved as early as practical when new service delivery arrangements are to be considered.
For more information contact: Lucy Sweet