Cabinet set to discuss new ways of working

The Cabinet of Bridgend County Borough Council will meet next week to discuss plans for how the local authority could potentially operate in future.

During the coronavirus pandemic, more council services have been delivered remotely or digitally, with staff who would normally be based within an office environment working from home instead.

Now, following an ongoing review, the council is developing a new blended model of working which could see staff dividing their time between both home and office.

In line with Welsh Government targets of enabling at least 30 per cent of the workforce to operate from home by 2024, the new model is intended to offer greater choice and flexibility, increase the efficiency of services for customers and continue to effectively target those who are most in need.

Among the potential benefits are possible financial savings, reductions in traffic, pollution and sickness absence levels, greater well-being among staff, improved retention and recruitment within key service areas, and greater alignment with the council’s ongoing digitalisation strategy.

With more than 6,000 staff delivering up to 800 different services, the new model will mainly affect employees who are office-based rather than those working across areas such as schools or within depots.

Engagement with staff and trade unions is underway. If agreed, the long-term plans are expected to be in place ready for spring 2022.

• Cabinet members will meet to discuss the plans on Tuesday 14 September.