Decision details

The appointment of an external consultant (Gauge Job Evaluation Specialist) to undertake, along with the out-going Senior HR Adviser and the Trade Union JE analysts at both BDC and NEDDC the job evaluation exercise for the proposed new structure for the HR, Payroll and H&S Service.

The consultant charges £500 per day for JE services and it is anticipated that 4 days will be required to undertake as a minimum all HR positions and the two other Manager positions.

The cost will be met from the current HR and Payroll budget which has underspends due to vacant posts.

The trained HR Job Evaluation analysts are not able to evaluate jobs which they will potentially be applying for or slotted in to and therefore external support is required to ensure fairness and transparency and to avoid any perceptions of bias.

Suitable specialist skills in the Gauge Job Evaluation system are available at Barnsley MBC who are prepared to undertake the work and have already undertaken an external review of the job evaluation exercise within Environmental Health and therefore have a good understanding of the Council's JE help text and application of the scheme locally. At a cost of £500 per day, Officers consider this represents good value for money.

Officers are of the view that it is not appropriate to seek competitive tenders in this instance.

The option to have HR analysts conduct the job evaluation exercise is not deemed appropriate given that they are directed affected.

The option to use senior managers that may have been trained in the use of gauge some time ago is also not deemed appropriate given that re-training would be required which would take more time than is available in terms of implementing the new structure and only applies on the BDC side.