Falkirk Council is implementing a new skills plan for its workers in order to address the shortage of tradespeople, as reported by the Daily Record. Joiners, plumbers, and plasterers employed by Falkirk Council will be trained in each other’s skills to expedite council house repairs. This initiative is part of a comprehensive review of Falkirk’s Building and Maintenance Division (BMD) which has been facing challenges such as high absence rates, recruitment difficulties, high turnover, and an aging workforce in recent years.
The BMD, which previously had around 350 tradesmen, now only has 195 staff members due to the impact of Covid. The plan to have tradesmen undertake various jobs has raised some concerns, with SNP councillor Jim Robertson questioning the concept. However, Falkirk Council’s head of environment and operations, Douglas Gardiner, emphasised that such cross-skilling would lead to a more efficient service for tenants in need of repairs.
Director of Place Malcolm Bennie highlighted that similar strategies have proven successful in other organisations like Fife Council, ensuring improvements for tenants. The initiative also includes upskilling employees, with those acquiring additional skills receiving a higher wage to stem the exodus of staff to better-paid private sector jobs. Additionally, the council has recruited apprentices to address the skills shortage and has engaged private contractors for tasks such as kitchen installations.
The council’s collaboration with external contractors has already resulted in a significant reduction in backlogs for kitchen installations and an enhanced focus on disabled adaptations. The move towards involving private contractors aims to boost efficiency and effectiveness in delivering essential services to residents. Despite concerns regarding the potential privatization of the council’s stores, Falkirk Council assured that there would be no service cuts, and jobs would be transferred under TUPE regulations.
In response to the proposed changes, Provost Robert Bissett, the convener of the Scrutiny Committee, expressed positivity about the upcoming transformations within Falkirk Council. The committee agreed to request a progress update in a year’s time to evaluate the impact of the new skills plan.
In conclusion, Falkirk Council’s proactive approach to addressing the shortage of tradespeople through skills development and strategic partnerships with private contractors demonstrates a commitment to improving service delivery for its residents and ensuring the efficiency of council operations.