November 2000 SE Review update

Updates on Marylebone High Street and Tunbridge Wells South East Review.

Marylebone High Street

Multiskilling

Having examined the "day in the life of" fully multiskilled roles, management has decided that the move to a multiskilled environment needs to take place over a longer period. A training programme tailored to individual requirements and linked to appraisal will be conducted in two phases running firstly to the end of January 2001 and, secondly, from the end of January until approximately one month after MHS goes on-air. No new multi-skilling initiatives will be introduced in this period. The move to MHS will retain existing staff categories. Convergence training and multi-skilled working will continue to be encouraged in an operational environment.

Conditions of service

Existing conditions of service would be retained for the time being but would be reviewed after the move. New roles, would be on days conditions.

MHS equipment

The work on Marylebone High Street would be finished by the end of November and staff had been on tours of the site. The technical systems had been chosen - NAS for radio and Leitch and Omnibus for TV. Agreement had been reached to share the studio with Training. A SNG vehicle would arrive in December.

PSE

Management believed that the retention, for the time being, of existing roles and conditions should help reassure PSE staff in London about their own personal circumstances in relation to the recently-agreed PSE reorganisation. It envisaged a formal merger into a common management structure on 1st April 2001.

Job opportunities

Management reported that there were two new jobs which it intended to fill immediately. They were - Technology Organiser (8D) and Multi-media Manager (5D TBC). These posts would be offered initially on a closed competitive basis to existing London PSE staff. As a consequence of the extended 2225 News, and additional Operator appointment would be made which would provide a further redeployment role.

It was proposed that four BJ posts would be created as community-based journalists in South London, West London, Essex and Herts. These roles would be multi-skilled, working across all the output and including camera operation and editing.

Job reductions

Of the thirty job reductions identified in London, fourteen have been achieved. Most difficulty was being encountered with Editors and Operators/Library. The unions agreed that management should carry out informal interviews with staff facing redundancy. Members would have the right to be accompanied by a union representative at those meetings.

Tunbridge Wells

Recruitment

Recruitment was well under way following a number of "highly successful" open days at Tunbridge Wells had produced 600 candidates. About 100 had been shortlisted from a high quality and diverse group.

The senior team had been appointed - David Fawig, Editor Newsgathering and Rod Beards, Output Editor. Two job offers had been made to Elstree staff.

Conditions of service

Most roles would be multi-skilled and days conditions of service would apply to new roles. Radio Kent staff would relocate on their existing conditions of service but these would be reviewed as different functions became more closely related.

Radio Kent relocation

The compensation package had been improved and discussions with individuals would take place in the near future. The finance case for new premises in Chatham had been approved and it was hoped approval for a new Brighton office would be given shortly.

Tunbridge Wells building

The building had been handed over on 19 October on schedule and within budget and the technical installation was under way. Management had learned some lessons and intended to increase the number of crews; move staff around the region as the travel time between locations had proved to be more than anticipated; and reporters would be based outside the regional headquarters because of difficulties getting into Tunbridge Wells.