The Corporate and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Panel of Worcester Council convened on Monday 10 June 2024 to discuss the role of volunteers in Worcestershire and the outcomes of the voluntary redundancy scheme. Key decisions and discussions focused on the importance of volunteering post-COVID-19 and the financial and operational impacts of the redundancy scheme.

Worcestershire Volunteers

Karen May, the Cabinet Member for the Community, highlighted the significant role of volunteers in Worcestershire, particularly in the post-COVID-19 era. She expressed gratitude to the volunteers and noted the positive impacts on both service delivery and individual health. The discussion emphasized the transition from the Here to Help COVID-19 response to more sustainable volunteer engagement.

Hannah Parrott, Assistant Director, provided detailed statistics on volunteer engagement, noting over 1,000 active volunteers in various sectors such as libraries, museums, and green spaces. She mentioned the development of new volunteer areas, including support for the Coroner's Court and public health champions. The financial contribution of volunteers was also highlighted, with significant savings and added value to council services.

Councillor Emma Marshall raised concerns about the lack of scrutiny in the decision to disband Here to Help, to which Parrott responded that the decision was pragmatic and based on reduced demand. The panel discussed the benefits of volunteering for individual well-being and the importance of promoting these benefits to recruit more volunteers.

Voluntary Redundancy Scheme

Richard Taylor presented the final report on the voluntary redundancy scheme for 2023-24. The scheme was introduced to address a projected net overspend of £22 million. A total of 192 applications were received, with 86 approved, resulting in an annual saving of £2.8 million.

Taylor assured the panel that the scheme was carefully managed to avoid impacting frontline services. He explained that roles critical to service delivery, such as social workers, were exempt from the scheme. The panel also discussed the importance of monitoring the impact on staff morale and service delivery, with plans to conduct a staff survey to gather feedback.

Councillor Natalie McBray inquired about the potential impact on caseloads and the measures in place to mitigate any negative effects. Taylor confirmed that while there might be short-term impacts, long-term service delivery would not be compromised. The panel also discussed the importance of supporting staff well-being and maintaining high levels of employee engagement.

Work Programme

The panel reviewed their work programme and agreed to invite Karen May back in 12 months to report on the progress and financial value of volunteer contributions. They also planned to review the results of the upcoming staff survey to assess the impact of the redundancy scheme on staff morale.

The meeting concluded with a commitment to continue supporting and promoting volunteerism in Worcestershire and to closely monitor the outcomes of the voluntary redundancy scheme to ensure the continued delivery of high-quality services.