GMB cautiously welcome postponement of awarding Royal Pavilion contract to Dome and Festival Trust

GMB, the union for staff at Brighton and Hove’s Royal Pavilion & Museums services, have gained an agreement that Brighton & Hove City Council will postpone the current process of awarding a direct contract and transfer of the Royal Pavilion & Museums services staff to the Dome and Festival Trust.

The decision by Brighton & Hove City Council is a result of the direct representation of the feedback, concerns and views of GMB union and its members. They have agreed to postpone the immediate threat of a direct transfer to the Dome and Festival Trust, and the commissioning of an expert external review of all of the options available to them in regard to the future of the Royal Pavilion & Museums services.

The scope of the review, which is to be completed by end of September 2018 will include looking again in detail at the two stage process to establish fully the costs and viability of that option, alongside other models including the service remaining as it is in house.

The review will also take into account any or all risk factors specific to each of the options on the table. Once completed, the review will then go back again to the Policy, Resource and Growth Committee for a final decision to be made on how best to protect the future of the Royal Pavilion & Museums services and staff.

Mark Turner, GMB B50 Branch Secretary said: “I of course cautiously welcome the offer from Brighton and Hove City Council.

“I say cautiously because everyone thought we were all moving along in one direction before, and then suddenly the Labour group changed direction under the leadership of Warren Morgan without any hint of a warning signal.

“Conservatives at the council’s Policy, Resource and Growth Committee also moved to awarding a contract unilaterally to the Dome and Festival Trust to run the Royal Pavilion & Museums services. So my hope is that this time an open and fair process with meaningful consultation will stay in place from start to finish in all aspects of new review process.

“The next steps for us is that we will be meeting members and staff next Wednesday 21 at 9am to ask them if they agree with the council’s proposal. In the meantime, we will be standing down any threats of both a ballot and /or industrial action, as a sign of good faith in light of the proposal to our members to consider.

“If they do then accept the proposal we will commence discussing what happens next around the review and their involvement in scoping the consultant brief, engagement process and timetable, and in ensuring that GMB members and staff will be seeing meaningful and significant input this time, into the whole process and final report.”

Contact: Mark Turner 01273 777027 or 07860 787973 or GMB Press Office 07970 114 762

Notes to Editors
GMB Press Releases
1] GMB call for reversal of decision to award contract to Dome and Festival Ltd (2 Feb 2018)
2] GMB oppose Brighton and Hove Council’s proposed transfer of staff to Brighton Dome & Festival Ltd (25 Jan 20180