Issue - meetings

With the consent of the Executive, George Fraser representing the GMB Trade Union, addressed meeting in connection with the report from the Director of Environment and Neighbourhood Services which requested authority to award a call off contract to deliver highways maintenance and related services from 1 April 2013 to March 2021. He spoke against the proposals which he felt would have an adverse effect on employees some of whom had many years’ service with the council. George Fraser questioned the financial basis for aspects of the contract and the justification for outsourcing given the TUPE (Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations arrangement and income projections making specific reference to the future of the Sign Shop and whether that was included in the contract. He felt that the savings to be made appeared to disproportionately affect the lower paid and staff had not received adequate assurances of future employment prospects.

The Executive thanked Mr Fraser for his contribution.