Bulletin: economies exercise
The University’s five year financial forecasts for 2009-14, including the £35m savings outlined in the economies exercise, were approved by the University’s governing body, Council, on November 19.
These have to be submitted to the HEFCE by 30 November.
Senate today (November 25) endorsed the approach being taken to identify ways of securing the £35m savings following a wide-ranging debate on the rationale and academic implications of the economies exercise. A motion to put on hold the economies exercise pending consideration by a new subgroup was defeated overwhelmingly with Senators expressing a clear desire to scrutinise savings proposals as they emerge, and for schools and services to ensure staff are fully involved.
A detailed progress report on the economies exercise will be brought to the next meeting of Senate on 3 February 2010. Extra meetings of Senate will be convened if necessary to ensure it has the opportunity to debate economies proposals.
Although the economies exercise is at an early stage, with decisions about the savings that could be achieved some considerable way off, we have provided a letter summarising information about the exercise (as required by section 188 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations Consolidation Act 1992) to campus unions. It will help clear the way for formal discussions and consultation.
The letter emphasises the University's commitment to full and timely negotiation and consultation with campus trade unions and suggests that a new Employment Security Review Group is set up to help this process. Its membership will include six representatives from trade unions, four members of the Vice-Chancellor's Executive Group and a Dean.
A copy of the 'section 188' letter to trade unions is available at: www.leeds.ac.uk/comms/financial/documents/unions_letter.pdf
The Council paper on the economies exercise is available for staff in the committee papers area at: http://papers.leeds.ac.uk/
More information about the economies exercise is available at www.leeds.ac.uk/comms/financial/
Posted in: Economies exercise