General Conditions of Employment

Conditions of service

Are those of the National Joint Council for Local Authorities Services, subject to local variations.

Salary

Is on a rising scale as indicated on the job description. Progression through the salary scale is by managed pay progression determined at appraisal. Appointments will normally be made to the lower half of the salary scale.
Salaries are payable monthly direct to bank account.

Health

All appointments are subject to a satisfactory medical report.

Superannuation

Staff who work fixed hours per week have the option of joining the Local Government Superannuation Scheme. Full details are available from the Human Resources Department and will be provided prior to commencement of employment.

Probation

All new entrants to Local Government serve a period of probation of six months. After the successful completion of their probationary periods, staff are transferred to the permanent establishment. Staff are notified on completion of the probationary period.

Working Hours

The offices are open to the public as follows:

Monday to Thursday - 8:30am to 5:00pm
Friday - 8:30am to 4:30pm

A system of flexible working hours is in operation to enable staff to vary their working day to suit their workloads and as far as practicable, their domestic arrangements. (Does not apply to staff not based at main offices, i.e. Museums, and Tourism/Guildhall).

Annual Leave

The leave year runs from 1 April and service for a part of a year is recognised on a pro-rata basis.
Basic Annual Leave Entitlement - 22 days
An extra day's annual leave is given after every complete year of Local Government Service up to 5 years of service (giving a total of 27 days leave after 5 complete years of service).
For twenty years' continuous service, a further three days leave per year.

Overtime

Is payable, with the prior approval of Directors, only to officers on scale Points up to and including scale point 30.

Car Allowances

A car allowance is payable to any officer who is required to use a car on official Council business. An Essential User Allowance is payable in the form of a lump sum and mileage allowance to officers holding posts designated as Essential User and they will then be required to provide a car. Loan facilities for Essential Users and authorised casual users are available subject to certain conditions.

The Council also operates a "contract hire" scheme for essential and authorised casual users. Further details available on request.

The Casual User Allowance will be paid in all other cases, where an officer uses his/her car for Council business, in the form of a mileage allowance.

Training

Any immediate training requirements of the individual and post are normally discussed at interview. For the agreed training the appropriate time off with pay is given, together with reimbursement of the training costs. Full details of the scheme and the associated conditions are available from the Personnel Department.

Politically Restricted Posts

Certain posts are designated as Politically Restricted under The Local Government and Housing Act 1989, due to the nature of the duties, salary level or reporting structure. Further details are available from the Personnel Department.

Termination of Employment

All staff scale 50 - 79 - Three calendar months on either side
All staff scale 35 - 49 - Two calendar months on either side
Temporary staff - Either one week or one month on either side depending upon the circumstances
All other staff - Employee required to give one calendar month's notice.