You and your role
Your job title, role and responsibilities will remain the same; just keep going with the great work you were already doing.
You might have a new line manager or might have a new line management reporting structure. If so, you will be informed of who or what this will be to ensure you know who to contact in case of queries.
You might have new members in your team from the legacy councils or be part of a new team. We encourage everyone to be welcoming and supportive of new team members.
Read the employee induction checklist (PDF, SharePoint).
Your leave and flexi
Your annual leave will remain the same, and any planned annual leave will be transferred to your new employer.
You’ll be able to book leave as normal after 1st April.
Current leave carry over provisions apply as per current terms and conditions. Individuals with leave balances exceeding the maximum carry over amount should discuss with their line manager.
Your existing flexi and lieu arrangements will continue as they are part of your terms and conditions.
You will continue to report any sickness if you are not fit to work in the same way as you do now.
All employees will continue to operate under their agreed ways of working and contractual terms. Any future changes will be a consideration for new unitary councils, or Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service.
Your pay and terms and conditions
Your normal pay will remain the same and you will continue to be paid on the same date.
You will remain on your current terms and conditions of employment, including any benefits and salary sacrifice schemes. If you have any questions regarding your terms and conditions of employment, please speak to your line manager in the first instance.
You will retain your continuous service.
Business travel and expenses will remain the same, and you will claim them in the same way.
Your health, safety and wellbeing
We care about you and our commitment to your health safety and wellbeing continues.
You will continue to follow the same safe working procedures you did before.
Your line manager will be your first point of contact for any concerns or issues.
You will still be able to report accidents, incidents and near misses.
Staff allocation and hosted services
A hosting arrangement means that, although you have one employer, your role will support both new councils and/or Cumbria Commissioner Fire & Rescue Authority. For some services this is a long-term arrangement that will be reviewed regularly, but for the majority this is a temporary arrangement for an agreed period of time until full disaggregation can be achieved. You will be informed of any proposed future changes which may include a further TUPE transfer when the hosting arrangements come to an end.
Reasons for services being hosted vary, however, typically it is to avoid the risk of disruption, where there are financial or contractual issues or where a team is small and specialist to provide better resilience, for temporary hosted services in particular, it provides a longer transition period.
Cumberland and Westmorland and Furness Councils have agreed the services to be hosted and which council they will be hosted by. An Inter Authority Agreement is in place to support the hosting arrangements between the councils.
Read the hosted services table (PDF, SharePoint).
Temporary shared arrangements
This is where a post will be shared on a temporary basis to ensure continued delivery of service to the new organisations from 1 April 2023. This means that although a postholder will have one employer, their role will support the services of the other council and/or Cumbria Commissioner Fire and Rescue Authority. You will be informed of any proposed future changes which may include a further TUPE transfer when the hosting arrangements come to an end.
Principles for shared arrangements have been developed and Service Level Agreements will be in place where required.
Line management arrangements
Everyone will have a line manager for day 1 who is employed in the same council as them. This may not be their current line manager, due to changes in senior leadership and disaggregation of services in some circumstances. These arrangements for some people may be temporary and ensure as a minimum you have someone you can go to for support, seek permission for holiday and expenses approval. Identifying all line managers, if they are due to change, is currently in progress and employees will be advised prior to Vesting Day.
Managers of teams and individuals shared across the two councils are encouraged to discuss the practicalities of working in this way with their line manager and to keep a check on their wellbeing, seeking support when needed.
Read the managers induction checklist.
Your pension
As you are transferring to a new employer you will be contractually enrolled into the relevant pension scheme, subject to scheme criteria.
If you do not wish to contribute to a pension you can opt out of the relevant scheme after 1 April 2023.
ICT and printing
You will be able to log onto your laptop or use your smartphone (and its number) as usual; nothing will change.
You will also have the same access to file stores.
You will still have access to your existing email address. There is also work underway to provide a temporary solution for revised email addresses.
You will be able to access Wi-Fi, either directly, or through a VPN connection, in the existing council building that you work from.
If you need any support with ICT queries, the Service Help Desk arrangements from all seven councils will remain in operation, so all existing kit can be supported, and issues resolved in the same way they are now.
All existing print facilities will continue as normal, with the same access in each building.
Your current telephone and telephone number will still work.
ICT Portal
If you need any support with ICT queries, the Service Help Desk arrangements from all seven councils will remain in operation, so all existing kit can be supported, and issues resolved in the same way they are now.
You can use the link below to visit the ICT portal to raise a fault or make any requests:
Manager information
Find information and resources to help managers, including employee induction packs, learning and development and governance in the manager information section.
Property, work bases and parking
You will be based at the same place of work, with the exception of some office-based staff currently working from Fire service buildings.
Your ID Badge will still allow you to have access to the same buildings. For access to any other building, you will need to sign in as a visitor. When visiting other council buildings, please make yourself aware of the fire evacuation procedures.
Parking arrangements remain the same as before.
You will receive a new ID badge and lanyard with the new Cumberland Council identity on it.
New badges will start to be issued from the 20 March with priority being given to those members of staff who are public facing. Your old badge will only be disabled once you have swapped them over. You will receive an email letting you know it is ready and the local collection arrangements.
If you need help
If you didn't find the answer to what you were looking for, then get in touch:
Email: [email protected]