Annual Report 2010 Publisher full - Offaly County Council

Human Resources
Offaly County Council is committed to the effective and efficient
management of its human resources. Outlined here is a summary of
developments in 2010 in the context of continuing reductions in financial
and human resources and protracted low level industrial action
as well as the continuing moratorium on Public Service Numbers.
Industrial Relations and Public Service Agreement 2010-2014
Offaly County Council was served with notice of Industrial Action in
early 2010 by all Trade Unions representing staff interests as their
response to pay cuts announced in the national Budget for 2010. The
action continued until the ratification of the Public Service Agreement
2010-2014 in mid June which gives a commitment to no further reductions
in pay and no compulsory redundancies in the public service
if efficiencies are achieved by other means.
Following extensive discussions held at national level in the autumn
of 2010 between Local Government Management and Trade Unions,
under the auspices of the Local Authority Implementation Committee
(LAIC), the Local Government Sector forwarded its Sectoral Action
Plan to the National Implementation Body at the end of September
2010. The Sectoral Action Plan gives effect to
the Public Service Agreement for the Local Government Sector and
deals with;
Restructuring including continued reduction in staff numbers
Shared Services within and between Local Authorities
Maximising economies of scale in procurement
Maximising the potential of e-Government
Redeployment
Productivity and Performance
Service delivery options
Each local authority was then advised to prepare a Local Action Plan
which would set out how the objectives of the agreement would take
effect locally and to engage with the trade unions regarding it. A
Local Action Plan was developed by management and issued to Trade
Unions in early December 2010.
Engagement with staff interests representing retained Fire Fighters
regarding the achievement of necessary efficiencies in the Fire
Service began in January 2010 and continued throughout the year.
Issues arising were referred to the Labour Relations Commission
which held its first meeting with unions and management in
December. Specific measures regarding the Fire Service are
contained in the Local Government Sectoral Plan and Local Action
Plan under the Public Service Agreement.
Supporting staff to reach their full potential - Training & Staff
Development
The budget assigned to staff training and development was cut again
in the annual budget for 2010. As a result, the provisions of the
Training and Development Plan were prioritised and corporate level
training was provided accordingly. An extensive training programme
on new and existing Human Resource policies was delivered to all
staff. This included Attendance Management, Performance Management,
Grievance and Disciplinary procedures, Equality and Diversity,
and Dignity and Work. Training on our Dignity at Work policy and
procedures was also made available to elected members. Essential
training on Health and Safety was also provided as was training on
Customer Services and I.T. systems as well as job specific training in
each Department. Financial support for staff wishing to pursue Third
Level qualifications relevant to their work was not made available in
2010 due to budgetary constraints.
Recruitment
Notwithstanding the Moratorium on Public Service recruitment, Offaly
County Council sought and received sanction to fill the following
vacancies which were advertised and/or competitions held in 2010
• Retained Fire Fighter (Birr, Edenderry, Tullamore, Ferbane)
• Retained Driver Mechanic (Birr, Tullamore, Edenderry, Clara)
• Retained Sub-Officer (Ferbane, Birr)
• Temporary Acting Health & Safety Advisor
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Page 61 | Offaly County Council Annual Report 2010