Suspension of HR/people-related activities and payments

The financial position of the council is our number priority for 2024/25, we need to create a sustainable financial council that can continue in the delivery of our services within the community.

Effective 4 March 2024, and until further notice, the council will institute a council-wide suspension on the following HR/people related activities. This applies to all positions (excluding school-based posts).  

The suspension is an additional cost-reducing measure to assist in creating a financial sustainable council. As a consequence, the below staffing related matters need to be temporarily suspended and only agreed on an exception basis by the workforce boards:

  1. Recruitment
  2. Use of agency and consultant/contractors
  3. Use of casual staff
  4. Job evaluation – unless a new post is approved at workforce board or part of an agreed restructure
  5. Honorariums - exceptions will still need to be approved by the service director (enabling)
  6. Recruitment and Retention Payments - exceptions will still need to be approved by the service director (enabling)
  7. Market Supplements - exceptions will still need to be approved by the service director (enabling)
  8. Accelerated and additional increments - exceptions will still need to be approved by the service director (enabling)
  9. Increasing hours
  10. Overtime and additional hours – unless contractual
  11. Training – unless statutory requirement. Apprenticeships via Upskill and any internal training courses can still proceed  
  12. Claims for expenses:
    • Subsistence for meal expenses – breakfast, lunch and dinner.
    • Small business purchases i.e. drinks, postage, stationery, flowers, laundry and books (not an exhaustive list)
    • Please note that since 2011 employees are responsible for paying their own membership/subscription fees. We will not reimburse these fees.  Please refer to the Travel and Expenses Policy for further information.
  13. Claims for travel:
    • Travel outside of Shropshire is not allowed, the only exceptions (agreed in advance by the relevant service director) are for a statutory reason or if externally funded
    • Without exception, any expense claim must only be authorised if accompanied by a valid VAT receipt