Principles met

  • We will explore ways for councils to act as a platform for helping the community to contribute to local outcomes, and to re-think the role of councillors as community connectors, brokers and leaders.
  • We will embrace innovation in how we work with local communities to drive positive change.
  • We will capture and ‘expand’ the experience and learning from individual projects and approaches in order to encourage broader application of co-operative principles within individual member Councils and across the Network.
  • We will support the development of a framework and criteria for social value, giving substance to the concept and supporting Councils with the tools to ensure better local social and economic outcomes.
  • In exploring new ways of meeting the priority needs of our communities we will encourage models, such as co-operatives and mutuals, which give greater influence and voice to staff and users. in designing and commissioning public services and in determining the use of public resources.
  • As a membership organisation, we will make this statement of our principles operational by: • Co-operation among members: Our members work together to help each other implement our values, sharing experiences and learning. • Openness of membership: Full, Associate and Affiliate Membership is open to any qualifying Council, organisation or individual who shares our values and is committed to putting them into action. • Co-production of the Network’s work: Members help shape the Network’s work programme and the content of events and written products. • Action-focused: The network is a vehicle for helping councils translate co-operative values and principles into policy and practice. •Membership-based: The network is majority funded by modest membership subscriptions from its member Councils, Associates and Affiliates. •Non-party-political: Members share the belief that working co-operatively within and across communities holds the key to tackling today’s challenges.

South Ribble Council’s recent insourcing of their waste contract marks a significant shift in approach toward waste collection services. For the past seven years the council’s waste services had been delivered by FCC, but following a decision by the council, the service was brought in-house for the first time in 30 years. The move allows the service to respond quickly to changes in national policy for waste and recycling, improve terms and conditions for employees, and localises decision making.

A total of 44 staff TUPE’d across to the Council. These staff now benefit from South Ribble Council terms of employment, resulting in better rates of pay and benefits. The majority will also receive a more beneficial pension through the Local Government Pension Scheme which provides a 12.5% contribution compared to a 3 % contribution for most staff under FCC terms. On South Ribble terms and conditions, staff receive improved sick pay and additional annual leave. Further there is also a commitment from the Council to expand new and improved terms and conditions to the entire South Ribble workforce, including Waste Services, by year end. This protects jobs and provides greater stability for workers, in line with the principles of Community Wealth Building.

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