'Unprecedented' times force Tayside Police to draw up redundancy policy
Tayside police has been forced to formulate a redundancy policy in an effort to make savings during "an unprecedented period of austerity."
Chief Constable Justine Curran.
- By Richard Burdge
- Published in the Courier : 11.11.10
- Published online : 11.11.10 @ 07.18am
Details of the move into uncharted territory will be outlined at a meeting of the Tayside Joint Board, when it meets in Perth on Monday.
In the joint report, by Chief Constable Justine Curran and treasurer Ian Lorimer, it is stressed the force "only intends seeking applications for voluntary retirement and voluntary redundancy at this time."
The report sets out the background to the drawing up of the policy, saying, "Members will be aware that the public sector is facing an unprecedented period of austerity.
"A great deal of uncertainty exists around how the final outcome of the spending review will affect Tayside Police.
"In the absence of detailed figures, the police service in Scotland has been asked by civil servants to consider budget cuts ranging from 16% to 25% over the next four-year spending review period. This equates to between £2.9 million to £4.4 million per annum over a four-year period.
"Staff costs account for approximately 85% of the force revenue budget, and therefore it will not be possible to achieve savings of the magnitude outlined in this report without significant impact on police officer and police staff numbers and in their terms and conditions.
"This level of savings cannot be achieved through retirement and natural wastage alone, and therefore enabling changes to employment policies will be required."
As the force has no redundancy arrangements, a policy has been developed in consultation with trade unions.
"A redundancy policy will be absolutely crucial if the force is to meet even the lower level of budget cuts predicted," says the report.
The report says every opportunity will be taken to find savings within its budget that do not impact on police officer or police staff numbers.
These include vacancy management so only those posts representing a "significant risk to the force" if they remain vacant are filled.
The report detailing the terms of the voluntary redundancy and early retirement scheme will be debated by the board on Monday in the meeting in the council chambers in Perth, but this item is likely to be heard with the public and press excluded.
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