Bedfordshire’s fire authority executive has backed a voluntary redundancy scheme amid a “significant efficiency saving challenge”.
Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Authority’s Executive Committee yesterday (3 March) approved the scheme as the service works towards £2m of efficiency savings.
Presenting the report, Angela Paradise, interim head of people, told members: “The service is facing a significant efficiency saving challenge.”
She added that “as a last resort, any service in that position has to consider [the] impact on post”.
The committee approved a new voluntary redundancy (VR) scheme for non-operational staff, alongside changes to the authority’s existing redundancy policy, which dates from 2015.
“I think it’s fair to say that the biggest change that members need to know is the cap of service in 20 years, opposed to 35,” Ms Paradise said.
Under the current policy, employees can receive 1.5 weeks’ pay for each completed year of service, up to a maximum of 35 weeks, based on their actual weekly pay.
Offset by savings
The committee report states that the existing entitlement “exceeds the statutory entitlement and is unfeasible in the current financial climate”.
Ms Paradise said: “We have to remember that any voluntary redundancy must be affordable, and that is the overriding criteria.”
The current proposal is that the cost of redundancy must be offset by savings within two years, but for “exceptional cases” this could be extended to three years.
Cllr Richard Wenham (Central Bedfordshire Council) described the revised limits as “sensible in light of general developments since the policy was last reviewed”.
The Executive Committee approved the voluntary redundancy scheme and the formal statement of amendment to its employer discretion policy.
By John Guinn
Local Democracy Reporter
