Use of Mutual Settlement Agreements following recent restructure

Dear EdinburghLiveJournalists

I have been passed your email dated 17th February 2021, requesting
information under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOSIA).
You have requested information on Business Stream’s restructure which
began in November 2020 and ended in December 2020, including:

1.            How many members of staff lost their jobs?

2.            How many Mutual Settlement Agreements were used?

3.            Why Business Stream, who is a wholly owned subsidiary of
Scottish Water, made people redundant when Scottish Ministers remain
committed to maintaining employment, delivering wage growth and a fair
rate of pay in the public sector, as key levers to aid economic recovery,
deliver National Outcomes and improve performance. Investment in
Scotland's public services remains a priority?

Following the consultation on restructuring which started on 5 November
2020, we created 45 new roles and opportunities within Business Stream and
we had 19 members of staff end their employment, all of which were with
the use of mutually agreed Settlement Agreements.

Your final request on why Business Stream undertook a restructure program
is not a request for information, but a request for commentary and
explanation.  Accordingly, we have not dealt with this question under the
terms of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.

I trust that this information will be satisfactory to answer your
enquiries. For information provided under FOISA you can appeal if you are
dissatisfied with the outcome. You must appeal within the period of 40
working days commencing on 19th March 2021. On receiving your request for
a review of this response, we will conduct an internal review which will
be undertaken by an independent team whose members were not involved in
responding to the initial request. Business Stream is required to complete
internal reviews within 20 working days. Please address any such appeal to
the Finance Director in writing or by email. If you are emailing can you
please use the email [Business Stream request email]

If your request for information is not resolved to your satisfaction at
that stage, you can appeal further to the Scottish Information
Commissioner, the independent body which oversees the implementation of
FOISA www.itspublicknowledge.info/appeal

Yours sincerely

Fiona Matheson | Regulation and Market Analyst 
Regulation and Compliance
Business Stream | 7 Lochside View | Edinburgh | EH12 9DH
[1]business-stream.co.uk

[2]naturally-different-signature-oct2020

IMPORTANT NOTICE: This email is confidential. If you are not the intended
recipient please notify us immediately by replying to this email, delete
this email from your system and do not use, disclose or copy it. We do not
accept any responsibility for viruses and it is your responsibility to
scan this email and its attachments (if any). Business Stream's email
system is subject to random monitoring. Where this email is unrelated to
the business of Business Stream, the opinions, conclusions and other
information set out in this email and its attachments (if any) are neither
given nor endorsed by Business Stream.

Scottish Water Business Stream Limited trading as Business Stream.
Registered in Scotland with number: SC294924.

Registered office address and principal place of business: 7 Lochside
View, Edinburgh, EH12 9DH VAT number: 945850885.

References

Visible links
1. http://www.business-stream.co.uk/