Purpose

West Midlands Employers (WME)
is the Regional Employers Organisation in the West Midlands. It is
a not-for-profit organisation collectively owned by 32 councils and
membership is a contractual commitment under the WME
Constitution. 
 
WME provides support and advice
on human resources, leadership, management and workforce
development matters. It provides a link to the National Employers
Federation which forms part of the National Joint Council (NJC) and
Joint National Council (JNC). These lobby central government on
local government staffing matters, undertake annual pay bargaining
and determine national terms and conditions.
 
Membership also provides
discounted access to services such as WMJobs, some shared delivery initiatives (e.g.
recruitment portal, coaching pool) and various events.
 
The Council’s ongoing
membership has been reviewed in the light of its pioneering
operating model, current usage of the services provided, the
implementation of the talent acquisition model, future needs and
requirements and the cost of membership.
 
The Council has identified its
key requirements to be (i) high quality
legal and procedural advice on human resource and employment
issues, (ii) a service responsive to needs in a fast moving
entrepreneurial organisation and (iii) value for money. 
 
After careful consideration of
the above criteria it has been concluded, and therefore
recommended, that the Council should look to terminate its
membership.
 
The shareholder subscription
contribution runs from 1 April to 31 March each year. The District
Council subscription for 2024-25 is £10,606:
 
•               
£7,828 regional employers organisation subscription and
£2,778 for a workforce priorities fund
•               
£2,778 to the workforce priorities fund
(invested to tackle ‘workforce challenges facing all
councils’).
 
A Council is required to serve
12 months’ notice to terminate its membership effective at
the end of a financial year (i.e. notice would need to be served by
31 March 2024 to terminate on 31 March 2025).
 
The WME constitution also
requires that any authority terminating membership must meet its
share of WME liabilities and the cost of establishing such
liability values.
 
A Termination Notice triggers
the start of an exit process. This includes the production of a
statement of liabilities. The statement will be submitted at the
earliest opportunity so the Council can consider whether to proceed
with the exit or withdraw the Notice.
 
Councils that are not members
of WME can still access many of its services, but at a higher
rate.
 
Central to the review is the
Councils commitment to innovation which can involve challenging
existing arrangements and implementing alternative
solutions.
 
The Council will:
 
•               
Procure alternative HR/Legal advice to interpret and
apply employment law
•               
Procure access to/ability to carry out ad-hoc Hay
evaluations, investigations, mediation, benchmarking, coaching
etc.
•               
Consider future recruitment portal provision (the
current contract is for 2024-27)
•               
Secure a route to the NJC/JNC to obtain updates on
national pay bargaining
 
If the process of withdrawing
from the organisation does not commence by 31 March 2024, the
earliest termination date will be 31 March 2026.
 

Decision

That West Midlands Employers be notified of
the Council’s intention to terminate its membership.
 
That the process of termination together with
the implications, as set out in the report, be noted.
 
That the final termination be subject to the
Leader of the Council reviewing the statement of liabilities once
prepared and submitted by West Midlands Employers and any costs
related to the liabilities being within Approved Budgets.