The Corporate and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Panel of Wychavon Council met on Monday, 10 June 2024, to discuss Worcestershire's volunteer initiatives and the outcomes of the voluntary redundancy scheme. The panel acknowledged the significant contributions of volunteers and reviewed the financial and operational impacts of the redundancy scheme.

Worcestershire's Volunteers

Karen May, Cabinet Member for the Community, presented a detailed report on the role and impact of volunteers in Worcestershire. The discussion highlighted the transition from the Here to Help COVID-19 response initiative to more sustainable volunteer engagement strategies. The panel praised the volunteers' contributions, particularly in community services, libraries, and museums.

Hannah Perrett, Assistant Director, elaborated on the current state of volunteer engagement, noting that over 1,000 volunteers are actively involved in various community services. She mentioned new areas of volunteer work, such as the Coroners Service, and the development of a county-wide volunteer portal funded by a £30,000 grant from the Department of Health and Social Care.

Councillor Eleanor Marshall raised concerns about the lack of scrutiny in the decision to disband Here to Help. Perrett explained that the decision was pragmatic, based on reduced demand and the need to integrate volunteer efforts with existing community networks.

Councillor Natalie Macbeth suggested promoting the personal benefits of volunteering more effectively, including well-being and skill development. The panel agreed on the importance of sharing volunteer success stories to encourage participation.

Voluntary Redundancy Scheme

Richard Taylor presented the final report on the voluntary redundancy scheme for 2023-24. The scheme, launched to address a significant financial overspend, received 192 applications, of which 86 were approved. The scheme is expected to save approximately £2.8 million annually.

Taylor assured the panel that frontline services were not adversely affected, as most redundancies occurred in support services. He explained the rigorous approval process, which involved multiple levels of scrutiny to ensure no critical roles were compromised.

Councillor Marshall inquired about the impact on staff morale and workload. Taylor acknowledged that while there might be short-term operational challenges, ongoing support and adjustments in processes were being made to mitigate these effects. The council is conducting an annual staff survey to monitor morale and address any emerging issues.

Future Work Programme

The panel briefly discussed the work programme for the coming months. They agreed to invite Karen May back in 12 months to review the progress of volunteer initiatives and to receive updates on the financial and operational impacts of the redundancy scheme.