Council sets out timetable on Cityclean report recommendations

The recent report into Cityclean, written by independent King's Counsel Aileen McColgan, sets out a number of recommendations the council should implement to create a safe, fair and inclusive working environment.

Already taking action

The council has already started to implement the recommendations including taking firm action on behaviour, equality matters and workplace culture.

These are all in progress, but to ensure we’re keeping our residents, businesses, stakeholders and visitors updated, we’ve set out the recommendations and planned timeline, below and will update the city moving forward.

Key recommendations

• Replace employment-related Councillor Appeals Panels (where councillors had the final decision on disciplinary matters) to bring the council in line with most other local authorities – summer 2024
• Revise ways of working with staff and unions at Cityclean to bring the service into line with ways of working throughout the rest of the council – spring 2024
• Improve joint working with unions and build a stronger culture of partnership to ensure the voices of every member of Cityclean staff are heard and are treated equally and fairly - Jan/Feb 2024
• Tighten time limits for staff disciplinaries and grievances to prevent procedures taking longer than they should – summer 2024
• Investigate recruitment practices to ensure fair recruitment and fair allocation of work to agency staff - Dec 2023    

‘Committed to implementing recommendations’

Council leader Bella Sankey, who called for an inquiry after becoming leader in May following the whistleblowing disclosures, said: “We have fully accepted the recommendations as laid out in the report and we are committed to implementing them as soon as we can.

“Having a waste and recycling service that is fair, inclusive and a healthy and safe place to work is vital for Brighton & Hove, its residents and businesses, and everyone who works or visits the city.”