Unions cry foul over lack of council shake-up discussion

Trade union leaders say they should have been consulted on a departmental shake-up ordered by city council chief executive Sue Bruce.

Councillors have agreed to proposals by Mrs Bruce that will see many city development staff being transferred to the services for communities department.

Only economic development staff will remain within city development, with planning, transport, public safety and building standards among the areas that will move out.

The move was opposed by Labour and Green councillors and the Unison union expressed concerns.

Agnes Petkevicius, secretary of the Edinburgh branch of Unison, said: “The proposal put forward by Sue Bruce goes beyond a change to reporting procedures and is, in fact, a restructuring of departments.

“Therefore, a review or reviews should have been put in place and the relevant trade unions consulted with.”

She said that, following publication of the original proposal, there was an exchange with Mrs Bruce, where assurances were given that there would be consultation.