Agenda and minutes

Please note that this meeting may be filmed or recorded by the Council for live or subsequent broadcast via the Council’s internet site or by anyone attending the meeting using any communication method. Although we ask members of the public recording, filming or reporting on the meeting not to include the public seating areas, members of the public attending the meeting should be aware that we cannot guarantee that they will not be filmed or recorded by others attending the meeting. Members of the public participating in the meeting (e.g. making deputations, asking questions, making oral protests) should be aware that they are likely to be filmed, recorded or reported on.  By entering the meeting room and using the public seating area, you are consenting to being filmed and to the possible use of those images and sound recordings.

The chair of the meeting has the discretion to terminate or suspend filming or recording, if in his or her opinion continuation of the filming, recording or reporting would disrupt or prejudice the proceedings, infringe the rights of any individual or may lead to the breach of a legal obligation by the Council.

The Chair referred Members present to agenda Item 1 as shown on the agenda in respect of filming at this meeting, and Members noted the information contained therein.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Bull.

The Chair will consider the admission of any late items of Urgent Business. (Late items of Urgent Business will be considered under the agenda item where they appear. New items of Urgent Business will be dealt with under agenda item below. New items of exempt Urgent Business will be dealt with at agenda item below).

None.

None.

To consider any requests received in accordance with Part 4, Section B, paragraph 29 of the Council’s constitution.

None.

To confirm and sign the minutes of the meetings held on 2 December 2021 and the minutes of the special meetings held on 2 December 2021, and 20 January 2022.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the meetings held on 2 December 2021and the minutes of the special meetings held on 2 December 2021, and 20 January 2022, be approved.

Report of the Chief People Officer

Dan Paul, Chief People Officer, introduced the report as set out.

A Committee member commented that the three policies were welcome and ensured that the Council was becoming an excellent employer.  Another Committee member followed up that all the policies had been updated in line with previous discussion at Committee.

In response to questions from the Committee it was noted that:

-       Changes to legislation meant that the Council would need to update the necessary policies. The Council was typically made aware of any changes to legislation that would affect statutory policies; therefore, any updates could be brought to this Committee.  

-       18-month pay protection was slightly above average, the median was 15 months. This meant that this was in-line with other local authorities.

-       It was noted that the current Consultant Policy was out of date, and it was recommended to the Committee to discontinue the policy. This policy was already covered by the Agency Worker Appointment Guidance which sat under the Recruitment Policy. The Chief People Officer said that he would circulate both the guidance document and the Recruitment Policy to members. He emphasised that the difference between guidance and policy was that guidance gave officers more detail about how a policy works.

Committee members felt that it would be useful to consider at the next meeting if a separate policy was needed to accompany the Agency Worker Appointment Guidance, as well as considering the discontinuation of the Consultant Policy.

RESOLVED

That the Parental Leave, Organisational Change, and Menopause Policies were approved.

To consider any new items of urgent business admitted by the Chair under agenda item 3 above.

None.

Item 10 is likely to be subject to a motion to exclude the press and public from the meeting as it contains exempt information as defined in Section 100a of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended by Section 12A of the Local Government Act 1985); para 1, information relating to an individual.

RESOLVED

That the press and public be excluded for the remainder of the meeting as agenda item 16 contained exempt information as defined in Section 100a of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended by Section 12A of the local Government Act 1985), paragraphs 1 and 2.

To confirm and sign the exempt minutes of the special meetings held on 2 December 2021, and 20 January 2022.

RESOLVED

That the exempt minutes of the meeting held on 2 December 2021, and 20 January 2022 be approved as a correct record.