Pictured above: Callendar House

Over the past 12 months, officers from both Falkirk Community Trust (FCT) and Falkirk Council (FC) have been working together to plan for the transfer of FCT services to the Council. All elements of the Project Plan agreed by Council in June 2021 are on target for completion.

A number of working groups have been meeting regularly to progress the many different and complex issues involved.

Each of these groups had a remit to consider specialist areas of operations as well as looking at the implications for each service. Each had representatives from both FCT and FC. 

FCT has undertaken its own wide-ranging conversation with employees to brief them on moving across also. This has seen the involvement of senior FCT and FC managers involved in the discussions. Regular updates have been provided and opportunities for employees to feedback and ask questions are offered.

FCT has also been consulting with Trades Unions on a number of issues including TUPE, employment policies, health and fitness membership benefits and the calculation of holiday pay allowances.

While the majority of FCT employees have a natural ‘fit’ into different Council services, further work was undertaken on roles that weren’t apparently clear where they would fit within existing Council structures.

This is subject to ongoing discussions with service directors and will shortly be subject to further consultations with the TUs. Further discussions will take place with these particular employees.

A series of meetings have taken place between managers and team leaders from both FCT and FC to early establish new working relationships to gain a better insight into working practices and priorities as well as ensuring FCT staff are welcomed into the Council. These sessions are ongoing.

As we progress to the transition date of 1 April, it was thought that a brief overview of some of the key milestones already achieved could be shared for members’ interest.

Place Services

• Close positive working between senior management teams in Place Services and FCT is leading to a smooth integration of services
• Given the local, national and international standing of the Helix Park and Kelpies, the Helix team is being retained as a stand-alone team under the leadership of Lesley O’Hare in a new Arts, Culture and Helix service
• FCT Strategic Park responsibilities (Kinneil Estate, Muiravonside Country Park and Callendar Park) will become part of the Council’s operational parks management/ development portfolio within the Planning & Greenspace service area 
• High maintenance standards within strategic parks will be maintained as operational staff are incorporated into the Grounds Maintenance team
• Greenkeeping staff at Grangemouth Golf Course will also join the Grounds Maintenance team within the Environment and Operations Unit
• The Falkirk Stadium will come under the remit of Paul Kettrick, Head of Invest Falkirk, managed under the leadership of Craig Isdale, Asset Manager where arrangements are underway for the Stadium ownership to fully transfer to Falkirk Council during 22/23 
• Meetings are now underway for Council management and teams coming across from FCT prior to April 2022   

Corporate and Housing Services

• Corporate & Housing Services have been working closely with FCT to ensure the smooth transfer of Library Services.  A number of our support team will also transfer to this Service
• Discussions have taken place with the Team Leader for libraries and her senior team.  Sally Buchanan within Falkirk Council will be the acting service manager for Library Services. Regular team meetings are now in place to facilitate a smooth transition on the 1st April
• The Service has also been working with FCT colleagues on matters which impact across all FCT teams including:
• Communication and engagement with employees and Trade Unions to ensure a smooth TUPE transfer
• The development of the Trust websites to show that services are operated through the Council, with effect from April
• Providing Trust employees with Council email addresses and Council identification badges once they are integrated into the Council team

Children’s Services

• Children’s Services have been working closely with FCT over the course of the last year. 
• FCT representatives have attended the CS SLT meeting and FC Director, HOS and Service managers have attended the FCT management meetings and had individual meetings with the operational leads for the various service delivery areas across sport and leisure, Active Schools, Outdoor Activities and Town Halls
• Bo’ness and Grangemouth Town Halls will be managed by Children’s Services as will all Sports Venues, Outdoor Activities and Community Sports Hubs
• Several Team Leader meetings from FCT have also taken place with CS managers re operational issues. These are in addition to the issues discussed at the more strategic meetings
• Trust SMT meetings continue with CS re income generation and property management issues
• Both parties have met with sportscotland to provide comfort that all active schools and associated events and programmes will continue seamlessly from the point of transfer
• Close co-operation has been evident over the last year as we jointly complied with the Scot Govt COVID related guidelines in allowing access again to clubs, groups in their use of the High Schools
• Senior managers from Children’s Services have visited a number of FCT facilities and will visit the remainder to meet and greet staff teams prior to the transfer

Several other task groups have also been taking forward legal, operational and practical issues including Governance, People, Finance and Marketing amongst others. These have focussed on due diligence, the agreements to be concluded between the Council and FCT related to the transfer, charity considerations with the Scottish Charity Regulator as well as practical implications in the run-up to and following the transfer date to ensure the continuing smooth operation and income generation/collection.