Digital workplaces
The Workforce Team is supporting local authorities on becoming modern, digital workplaces. Watch our new video case study from Aylesbury Vale District Council, looking at how the council is managing cultural change.
Have your say: digital leadership skills
The Workforce Team is working with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to promote the Local Digital Declaration, launched at this year’s LGA Annual Conference. We are looking at the best ways to develop digital leadership skills for senior officers and members and would like your views via the online survey.
Pay negotiations: NJC for Local Authorities Fire & Rescue Service
An interim pay uplift of two per cent for 2018 has been agreed for firefighters, pending the conclusion of negotiations on broadening the range of activities that operational staff can undertake.
Apprenticeships Accelerator Programme
The LGA has secured funding from ESFA to run the Apprenticeships Accelerator Programme. A pilot phase will run from October 2018 to February 2019 providing up to 25 councils with five days of workforce development support. Following an evaluation process, a second phase is expected to launch in spring 2019. Find out more about the LGA’s apprenticeship work.
Apprenticeship levy: new flexibilities
Following lobbying by the LGA, the government has announced a package of reforms to the Apprenticeship Levy including increasing the amount of Levy funds that can be transferred to another employer from 10 per cent to 25 per cent, and extra funding to speed up standards development. The change to the transfers policy will be effective from April 2019. Find out more and read the LGA response.
Teachers' pay rise
In the summer the Government announced that it would fully fund the pay rise for all classroom teachers. It has since emerged that this will not apply to centrally employed teachers (CETs), the majority of which provide music tuition. Through a recent letter to the Secretary of State for Education, Damian Hinds, and in our media work, we are seeking assurances from the Government that it will meet the cost of the additional 1 to 2.5 per cent salary rise for CETs, estimated to be £5.5 million. We have reiterated that the burden cannot fall on councils, given our existing financial pressures.
Local Government Workforce Strategy
The workforce team conducted a consultation exercise on the strategic priorities for workforce development across councils over the summer. The results have provided a clear steer for the upcoming workforce strategy and we will be publishing the strategy on our website soon.
Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) consultation published
MHCLG has opened an eight week consultation on changes to the LGPS. The consultation looks at equalising pensions payable to survivors of civil partnerships or same-sex marriages with those payable to widows – this change is necessary in light of recent legal judgements. Other technical changes are proposed to deliver that policy intent.
Public Health England: "Every Mind Matters"
Public Health England (PHE) is piloting a new mental health campaign in the Midlands, before national roll-out in 2019. “Every Mind Matters” will help individuals pro-actively manage their mental health and wellbeing, and address common concerns, such as having difficulty sleeping or feeling anxious. Sign up for updates on the PHE Campaign Resource Centre.
Equalities and diversity
Cllr Sharon Taylor (Resources Board) has been appointed as the LGA’s first equality and diversity champion, to provide a high profile for a growing work programme. There is a particular focus on gender equality at the moment but this is being widened.
Nominate your flexible superstars for the Timewise Power 50
The Timewise Power 50 awards will celebrate the 50 most inspirational people who are making a success of working flexibly across five categories: power part-timers, power climbers, power job sharers, power returners and power founders. They are also looking to celebrate forward-looking businesses that have demonstrated Innovation in Flexible Job Design and Innovative Flexible Hiring. Nominate now - deadline 2 November.
Struggling to recruit town planners? LGA in partnership with Public Place offers an innovative solution for councils
Public Practice is inviting expressions of interest from local authorities and public bodies in London, the South East and East of England to host placements starting in April 2019. We would also like to hear of any interest from authorities in other regions of the UK, with a view to setting up other cohorts in the future. For more information read Prospectus for Authorities and Frequently Asked Questions. The deadline for Expressions of Interest is 29 November.
#OurDay 2018
This year’s #OurDay will take place on 20 November. Our annual “tweetathon” gives everyone who works or volunteers in local public services the chance to share their stories and demonstrate how they improve the residents’ lives. This is the seventh #OurDay and each year more people have taken part. We want councils to share the date with as many people as possible - let’s make this year’s #OurDay the biggest ever. Keep an eye on @LGAComms to see what we’ve got planned or email ourday@local.gov.uk if you have any questions.
Employment Law
Advisory Bulletin 662 sets out information on the EU Settlement Scheme and an update from the Government on workplace rights in relation to Brexit, as well as a case report on Statutory Transfer Schemes and TUPE, an update on sleep-ins and the national minimum wage, information on apprenticeships for the schools workforce, a new Acas guide on references and details of the Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay Act 2018. It also includes a report on actions to close the gender pay gap plus the employment law timetable.
Local Government Pension Scheme
Bulletin 176 reports on issues affecting the LGPS for employers and administering authorities. This month’s issue includes articles on scheme valuations, the work of the Scheme Advisory Board and the Pensions Regulator’s new approach to regulation.
Essential Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Training
London | 8 November 2018
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