Comhairle nan Eilean Siar PRESS RELEASE 30 October 2001 For Use: Immediately

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Comhairle Works With Unions On DSO Restructuring

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar's Policy and Finance Committee agreed today that representatives of the Comhairle and Trade Unions will work together on restructuring the Comhairle's Technical Services DSO to make it more competitive and able to bid for future contracts, including the forthcoming £3m Buildings Maintenance contract.

The decision came as a series of reports into the DSO was considered by the Committee. Councillors heard that last year's deficit had been £503k, down on the projected figure of £667k.

Policy and Finance Chairman Roddy Murray said: "There are certainly encouraging signs that the efforts we have made to turn around the losses within the Technical Services DSO are paying off. And it now likely that any deficit will be less than last year's. That is significant".

The Committee also agreed that the DSO should be reduced to the optimum size. Volunteers for redundancy will be sought whilst redeployment will be considered where possible. Mr. Murray said: "Every possible effort will be made to avoid compulsory redundancies. In addition, the process will be overseen by a working group of representatives from the Comhairle and the Unions to ensure fairness and that every possibility is fully explored.
Our strategy is to ensure that the DSO is in a position to continue providing front line services at a competitive rate. To reach that position we have to find the optimum size of organisation".

The decision was subsequently agreed by the full Council.

Tenders for the Building Maintenance Contract are to be submitted by 17th December. The contract will be awarded by the end of January 2002.

Ends

Issued by Nigel Scott
Communications Officer

Tel: 01851 709389 (Work)
Tel: 01851 706412 (Home)
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email: nscott@cne-siar.gov.uk