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Early retirement of University officers and University assistants: Notice

26 April 1999

In their Joint Report, dated 26/21 October 1998, on arrangements for the early retirement of University officers and University assistants (Reporter, p. 88), the Council and the General Board proposed the introduction of a scheme for the voluntary early retirement of University officers and assistant staff which would facilitate the successful completion of the savings exercise, the need for which was explained in the 1998 Allocations Report (Reporter, 1997-98, p. 678). The proposed scheme was approved (subject to certain modifications) by Grace 11 of 25 November 1998, and was put into effect in the Lent Term. Applications for early retirement were received from 166 members of staff; 91 of these were offered early retirement under the scheme, and 79 have accepted the offer made to them.

Each application was evaluated in accordance with the agreed principles, the most important of which was that the applicant's early retirement must be in the overall managerial interest of the University. It was a condition of the scheme that there should be associated with each early retirement a permanent reduction in expenditure, which would be a consequence either of the applicant's post being permanently suppressed or of an equivalent recurrent saving being achieved elsewhere. The Council and the General Board are satisfied that the scheme has achieved its purpose of making possible a net reduction in recurrent expenditure, taking account of the loss of activity which will result from the suppression of posts or the equivalent savings.

Having reviewed the applications received under the scheme, the Council and the General Board believe that, in addition to those whose applications have been approved, there are a significant number of members of the University staff who are interested in voluntary early retirement and whose applications would be supported by the Heads of their Departments if the conditions of the scheme were modified by dropping the requirement to achieve a saving in expenditure. They have accordingly agreed to propose an extension of the scheme with revised terms, under which it will still be necessary to demonstrate that an applicant's retirement is in the managerial interest of the University, but there will be no requirement for a permanent reduction in expenditure. If this extension is approved, they intend to invite new applications, or reapplications from those who were previously unsuccessful, with the object of making offers of early retirement to members of staff which, if accepted by them, will require them to retire on 31 July 1999. The terms of any offer made under this extension of the scheme will be identical to those set out in the Joint Report (including the possibility of re-engagement on a part-time basis). The Council and the Board emphasize that, as in the case of the original scheme, the participation of individuals in the scheme will be entirely voluntary.

It is expected that the cost of extending the scheme on the terms proposed will amount to about £2m; however, this figure is only a rough estimate and the eventual sum required, if the managerial interest of the University is to be adequately served, may be greater than this. The Council intend to include provision of £2m for this purpose within the estimates for 1999-2000 and, if a larger sum is eventually required, to charge it to the Quinquennial Equalization Fund.

The Council are submitting a Grace to the Regent House (Grace 10, p. 547) for the approval of the extension of the present scheme on the terms proposed above.


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Cambridge University Reporter, 28 April 1999
Copyright © 1999 The Chancellor, Masters and Scholars of the University of Cambridge.