- Conference
- 2009 Local Government Service Group Conference
- Date
- 18 February 2009
- Decision
- Carried
Conference notes:
1)The impact of the credit crunch and recession on local authority finance
2)The additional demands being placed on local authorities and the resulting workload pressures on staff
3)The ‘political expediency’ of freezing council tax levels, sometimes contributing to budget cuts and job losses in subsequent years
4)The decision of the Government in the pre-budget report to require local authorities to identify an additional £500m in efficiency savings in 2009/10
5)The importance of branches and regions being enabled to engage with employers about local government
6)The significance of the next Comprehensive Spending Review to the pay, terms and conditions of UNISON members in the next three years
Conference deplores that there are significant job losses in local government through recruitment freezes, voluntary and compulsory redundancies often with compensation little more than the statutory minimum
Conference believes:
a)That it is vital to ensure that much needed public services are available to those facing the consequences of the recession
b)That this is just as important as the re-capitalisation of the banks and ensuring that small and medium sized businesses are able to continue and secure appropriate access to credit
c)That local authorities have a significant role to play in an integrated response to the recession
d)There are significant economic and social benefits
e)Local authorities can make a difference in job creation and the local economy through expanding the range and scope of public services
f)That a good settlement for local government in the next comprehensive spending review is essential for future improvements to public services and to members’ pay terms and conditions
Conference therefore calls on the Service Group Executive to:
i)Seek the availability of additional financial support from the Government, Welsh Assembly and Scottish Executive to enable local authorities facing financial difficulties to avoid reductions in service provision and the consequent job losses on the basis of need
ii)Work with the UK TUC’s to ensure that a detailed submission is made on the need for a good local government settlement as part of the next comprehensive spending review. This should be part of a strategy to protect and improve local public services and utilise the benefits of public service provision and improvements to members’ pay terms and conditions as part of a strategy to strengthen local economies
iii)Provide support for branches campaigning against cuts or job losses including, if necessary, industrial action in accordance with the Rules