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Local government minister, John Healey, has confirmed that staff moving to the new unitary councils will be covered by TUPE. Mr Healey has published a framework, which the Government intends to put in place for the transfer and appointment of staff to the new unitary councils, which will start in April 2009. Under the framework, all staff in the authorities which will cease on 1 April and who are in post immediately prior to that date will become employees of the new councils. Those staff will transfer to the new councils on terms and conditions no less favourable than those which applied under the previous authorities. But all the new chief executive posts must be recruited via an open process. ‘New senior officers with fresh skills, experiences and new perspectives will be vital in creating a successful future for these flagship councils,' said Mr Healey. ‘That is why our regulations also require the chief executive of each new unitary council to be recruited by open competition by April 2010 at the latest, and why we expect the majority of top posts also to be subject to open competition over a period.' The two new unitary authorities in Cheshire have started their search for their chief executives. GatenbySanderson is handling both posts. The Cheshire West and Chester post is advertised on LocalGov.co.uk here, and details of the Cheshire East position can be found here. The hunt is also on for a chief executive at the new Northumberland authority, with a salary of up to £180,000, which is also being handled by GatenbySanderson. Veredus is dealing with the search for the new Durham unitary top officer.

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WHITEHALL

TUPE to cover unitary transfers

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