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Monday, 05 March 2007 |
The Executive Committee met on Friday 2nd and topics covered included:
- Workforce Pay and Benefits Review The committee report stated that less than 1,000 employees have not formally agreed their new pay and conditions. However, when John Mason asked how many staff were still involved in the review and appeals process, he was told about 9,000. That represents nearly one third of the workforce so it looks like this issue has a long way to run yet.
- Surplus Land & Property LLP Yet another separate legal body is being set up by the Council, further undermining local democracy and control of public assets. This time it is a limited liability partnership (LLP) to handle land and property disposals. The argument is that money can be released quicker for new capital spending. However, the opposition argued that when costs like interest are taken into account, there will be less money in the long run. In addition it will tie the Council's hands as far as using surplus land for new developments. However, Labour won the day with a 13 to 2 vote.
- Practicalities of 2007 Elections The SNP welcomes the new fairer voting system being introduced this year. On the practical side, the Council hopes to have 30 scanners each counting 3,000 ballot papers per hour at the elections on 3rd May. Scanning the papers would therefore take about two and a half hours. However, there was some scepticism expressed as to whether such targets were achievable.
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