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Division(s): N/A

ITEM CA14

CABINET - 18 OCTOBER 2005

RETIREMENT POLICIES

Report by Director for Resources

Introduction

  1. The Council’s policies on retirement have been revised in the light of consultations with Cabinet members, consultations in respect of the policy for teachers at the Teachers Joint Committee on 22 September 2005 and informal consultations with Unison in respect of non-teachers. Annex 1 shows the proposed revised policy for teachers; Annex 2 shows the proposed revised policy for ‘Green Book’ employees. For comparison the current policies are also appended: Annex 3 for teachers and Annex 4 for ‘Green Book’ employees.

  2. At the Teachers Joint Committee meeting the teacher unions said that they value the current scheme and wish to emphasise the operational disadvantages schools will face from any revised policy which makes early retirement more difficult. In particular, the unions were very concerned at the proposal to couple revised premature retirement criteria with capped budgetary provision, as this would change the scheme from one of entitlement to one of discretion.

  3. The outcome of discussions with Unison were that they wish to discuss the proposed changes to the Retirement Policy at the next Employees’ Joint Consultative Committee on 20 October 2005. Unison considers that a national strike on pensions is very likely and they believe it is not advisable to change local policy in this climate. They are seeking detailed consultations on each of the proposed changes.

    4. Related Issues

  4. The process for decisions on early retirements in the proposed policies perpetuates the current arrangements under the Constitution. These provide for determination of payments above the level delegated to officers, by a sub-committee of the Pension Fund Committee. However, there are proposals to review these arrangements in the context of the general review of the Constitution this Autumn (expected to report to Council in January 2006.)

  5. The funding for early retirements among teachers is an issue for future consideration in the context of the Budget.

    6. RECOMMENDATION

  6. The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:

          1. approve and adopt the retirement policy for teachers at Annex 1 to the report;

          2. approve the retirement policy for ‘Green Book’ employees at Annex 2 to the report as a basis for further consultation with the employees’ side.

JOHN JACKSON
Director for Resources

Background Papers: Nil

Contact Officers:
Sue Corrigan, County HR Manager, Tel: (01865) 810280
Sue Tanner, Strategic HR Manager, Learning & Culture, Tel: (01865) 815472

October 2005

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