§ Mr. ClappisonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he intends to issue further guidance to the Local Government Staff Commission (England) about the staffing implications of the continuation of district or county councils as unitary authorities.
§ Mr. BaldryI am placing in the Library a copy of the further guidance which we are issuing to the Local Government Staff Commission for England.
The guidance, which has been drawn up in consultation with the local authority associations and the staff commission itself, is designed to clarify the original policy guidance in cases where district or county councils continue as unitary authorities.
19WA continuing authority with new functions will need to take a completely fresh look at its existing organisational structures and staffing in planning for unitary status.
Within the constraints of employment legislation, the additional guidance provides as level a playing field as can be achieved for staff of outgoing authorities compared with those of the continuing authorities. It gives a framework within which the commission can provide continuing authorities with some practical examples of ways to help maximise their freedom to choose a new head of paid service and other senior managers, and to review the organisational structures and staffing of existing support services.
We expect the staff commission to look carefully at all the implications of the additional guidance.