Moray councillors to consider No Compulsory Redundancies policy
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COUNCILLORS in Moray are set to consider the possibility of adopting a No Compulsory Redundancies policy.
The proposed policy would help reduce anxiety for staff members, SNP co-leader Graham Leaderbitter (Elgin City South) argued at a meeting of the full council on Wednesday (June 28).
Cllr Leadbitter originally put forward a motion asking the council to adopt the policy, but this was changed and councillors will now consider it.
Support was given by SNP and Labour councillors, with but other councillors voiced concerns – suggesting that tying up money in a financial crisis might not be wise.
Putting forward his motion, Cllr Leadbitter said: "Compulsory redundancies are a cloud that hang over people.
"Why would you want to be involved in redesigning services if you might lose your job? If you remove that threat then you get a far more positive relationship.
"If you have positive morale then staff are more willing to find improved ways or working, to manage budgets and there is far more innovation.
"There is also the issue of fairness – it's not a fair way to treat people who are subject of a cost-of-living crisis."
Seconding the motion, Cllr Jérémie Fernandes (SNP, Elgin City North) added: "We have to show the 4000 plus people employed by the council that we value their work.
"We value the staff in schools, the staff at depots and our officers, and we want to promote a culture of fairness.
"We often hear that we are struggling to recruit people and that we need to attract top talent, and if we prioritise job security then people are more likely to join the team.
"Not only that, but the council is one of the biggest employers in Moray and this would extend to families and the local economy."
Labour councillors Sandy Keith (Elgin City North) and Ben Williams (Fochabers-Lhanbryde) backed the proposals.
However, a number of Conservative councillors, and Green councillor Draeyk Van der Horn (Forres) expressed concerns.
Chief financial officer Lorraine Paisey also said she was against 'blanket policies' that 'restrict the council's ability to balance budgets'.
Cllr Van der Horn said: "None of us want to see redundancies, but we could have members of staff in phantom roles.
"None of us want to diminish the morale of staff but we need to look at things in a wider context."
Cllr Amber Dunbar (Conservative, Elgin City North) said: "We would all like to say there will be no compulsory redundancies but it's out of necessity.
"In Moray we are having to find more savings than ever before. How much extra burden can we put on local tax-payers?"
