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Local government is facing major financial pressure and must make major savings over the coming years. This means making tough choices.

The County Council wants to be a good employer and we value the hard work carried out by all DCC employees, but we must also respond to the situation and provide the best possible value for public money.

To prepare for the tough times ahead and to help protect staff as much as possible a Corporate Employment Strategy (29KB - pdf help) was introduced in November 2009.

This strategy looks to support cost reductions while reducing the need for large-scale redundancies.

Staff and Trade Unions were consulted on a number of proposals in year one of the Employment Strategy and some changes to employment terms and conditions were introduced on 1st April 2011.

• Summary of changes (160KB - pdf help) - March 2011

From 1 April 2011:

• Non-contractual Overtime payments to staff on spinal column point 29 (Grade F) and above will stop.  
• The home-working and loss of amenity allowances will cease.  An individual letter will be sent to employees currently in receipt of these allowances.
• The mileage allowance (28KB - pdf help) for casual and essential users will be harmonised to the standard Revenue and Customs rates and lump sum payments to essential users will be halved.
• Honoraria payments will cease.  An individual letter will be sent to employees currently in receipt of this allowance.
• Redeployment allowances for new cases will be reduced from up to four years down to a fixed two year period.
• Appendix E allowances for new cases will reduce from a fixed four year period to a fixed two years.

We will also be further promoting opportunities for flexible working practices such as increased part time working and unpaid leave.  The new phased retirement option will no longer be introduced due to the government’s recent announcement regarding the removal of the Default Retirement Age.

It has also been agreed with the Unions not to pursue the proposal for a reduction in sick pay arrangements, although it is possible this may form part of national negotiations affecting all local authorities.

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If you need any further information, please email us at policystrategy-mailbox@devon.gov.uk. When emailing, please include the words "school based staff" in the subject line.