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Welcome to the April edition of the LGA Workforce Team Bulletin.
Top stories for this edition include the introduction of a cap of £95,000 on exit payments in the public sector; LGPS, Teachers’ and Firefighters’ pensions news, summary data report on the gender pay gap in local government 2019 and an update of the Soulbury agreement (blue book). While we have your attention, take a look at some of the events we are running, as well as the Advisory Bulletin containing all the latest employment law issues.
Stories
HM Treasury issues further consultation on the exit cap
In the March bulletin we reported that the Government planned to introduce a cap of £95,000 on exit payments in the public sector, which includes any pension strain cost.
On 10 April HM Treasury published its further 12 week consultation on draft regulations to implement the exit cap. The LGA will respond ahead of the 3 July deadline and we expect councils will also want to respond directly. There is a technical briefing on the consultation documents.
Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS) funding consultation
The Department for Education (DfE) has published its response to the consultation on funding for the increase to employer contributions to the TPS in 2019/20, confirming additional funding for local authority centrally employed teachers as well as maintained schools. The DfE has also published the methodology for the payment of the funding.
TPS Valuation
The DfE has published the results of the actuarial valuation of the TPS carried out as at 31 March 2016 that confirms that the TPS employer contribution rate will increase to 23.68 per cent from 1 September 2019.
Summary data on the gender pay gap in local government 2019
This paper summarises the data submitted by English local authorities. The data has been analysed as submitted to the Government’s gender pay gap service. In the analyses, councils have not been weighted by workforce size. This is an initial report which will be expanded in due course.
Soulbury Report
The Soulbury committee has updated and revised its constitution in the Soulbury Agreement (Blue Book).
Schoolteachers
Following on from submitting its written evidence in January, the National Employers’ Organisation for School Teachers (NEOST) gave oral evidence to the pay review body in March. NEOST’s position and ‘ask’ was for a fully funded pay uplift across the board without targeting. It was also stressed that the pay grant funding covering the element of the 2018 pay award that exceeded one per cent must be rolled up into National Funding Formula.
It is anticipated that the Schoolteachers’ Pay Review Body will submit its recommendations to the DfE in May. In its evidence NEOST stressed the need for early consultation on the proposed changes to avoid the repeat of last year’s situation where consultation took place just as the school summer holiday period started.
Publications
Advisory Bulletin 668 contains a case report on the suspension of an employee and breach of mutual trust and confidence and two case reports on the 20-minute in-work rest break provided by the Working Time Regulations. There are also details of two Government consultations: one on curbing the misuse of confidentiality clauses and another on the extension of the off-payroll workers’ rules to the private sector. Finally, there are details of new Acas guidance on neurodiversity in the workplace and a survey designed to improve the experience of reporting trade union facility time, plus the employment law timetable.
Latest LGPS bulletin
Bulletin 183 reports on issues affecting the LGPS for employers and administering authorities. This month’s issue includes articles on Fair Deal in the LGPS, the 2019 valuation, changes to actuarial factors, the annual update bulletin and much more.
Latest FPS bulletin
FPS Bulletin 18 – March 2019 contains important year end updates and details about new FPS legislation coming into force on 1 April, as well as a new additional pension benefit (APB) factsheet and all of our regular features.
Call to action on dementia training
Read the latest call to action on dementia training.
Sharing ideas
SAFER Recruitment
Safer Recruitment is a free service for councils and recruiters. It ensures a more transparent supply chain including mitigating risks of any modern slavery; helping compliance in the recruitment supply chain; ensuring more agency workers are aware of how and where to get free help and providing a place for councils to report any abuse in their supply chain, which in turn, may then be shared with law enforcement, regulators, the Home Office, etc., as appropriate.
Employer Link – providing expert employment guidance
The LGA workforce team provides our expertise to local authorities for free. However, many other organisations could also benefit from our services through Employer Link. Employer Link is a key resource for organisations that use the terms and conditions of the Green Book or Burgundy Book; as well as those that provide workforce support within the sector. Visit our website to see how we can help your organisation or organisations with whom you work.
LG Inform Plus
LG Inform Plus recently launched their new website. Find out more about local data covering 1 billion values from 45 sources and other money saving services.
If you're interested in learning more about LG Inform or LG Inform Plus, you can sign up for the online training sessions. They're quick, informative and easily accessible from the comfort of your own desk. Email LGInform@local.gov.uk for further information.
Events
Children's services commissioning and procurement
Birmingham | 1 May 2019
Firefighters and Police Local Pension Boards governance conference
London | 15 May 2019
Schools’ workforce policy and employment law conference
York | 13 June 2019
Schools’ workforce policy and employment law conference
London | 18 June 2019
Dates for diaries
Teachers’ Pensions Annual Conferences
London | 8 October 2019
York | 17 October 2019
LGPS Annual Governance Conference
York | 23 to 24 January 2020
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