My Department oversees workforce planning for the local government sector, including the monitoring of local government sector employment levels. My Department does not have a role in relation to the arrangements for the delivery of services at local level.
Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he or she is responsible.
I have been advised that the issue is the subject of ongoing engagement between the relevant local authority and the Trade Union that represents this grade.