One of the key benefits of facility time is that reps can fix problems before they turn into disputes, pointed out Ordnance Survey rep Neil Sutherland.

Delegates backed the Ordnance Survey branch motion calling on the sector executive to negotiate with government to increase the amount of facility time for civil service departments and to continue bargaining and negotiating with the new government to make changes.

Executive member Alan Grey said reps needed to prove they added value and encourage people to become active in the union.

• You can see more conference reports in the ‘news’ section on the left of the civil service industry pages and in PublicEye magazine, being distributed to members this week.