Agenda and draft 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 to the filming at meetings notice, and attendees noted this information.

RESOLVED:

That the filming procedure was noted.

To receive any apologies for absence and substitutions.

Apologies were received from Councillor Ali.

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 9 below.

There was none.

A member with a disclosable pecuniary interest or a prejudicial interest in a

matter who attends a meeting of the authority at which the matter is

considered:

(i) must disclose the interest at the start of the meeting or when the interest

becomes apparent, and

(ii) may not participate in any discussion or vote on the matter and must

withdraw from the meeting room.

A member who discloses at a meeting a disclosable pecuniary interest which

is not registered in the Register of Members’ Interests or the subject of a

pending notification must notify the Monitoring Officer of the interest within 28

days of the disclosure.

Disclosable pecuniary interests, personal interests and prejudicial interests

are defined at Paragraphs 5-7 and Appendix A of the Members’ Code of

Conduct

There were none.

To consider any requests received in accordance with Part 4, Section B,

paragraph 29 of the Council’s constitution.

There were none.

To agree the minutes of the previous meeting held on 3 April 2025 as a correct record.

The minutes of the previous meeting, 3 April 2025, were discussed.

RESOLVED:

The minutes of the previous meeting, 3 April 2025, were agreed as a true and accurate record of proceedings.

The Chief People Officer introduced the report.

It was highlighted that there had been an increase in the number of staff in the workforce since the last report to Committee. However, it was stressed that there had been a reduction in the number of agency staff due to the work of managers. It was explained that the staff headcount in December 2024 to March 2025 had increased in part due to insourcing of Fusion Leisure.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee:

1. Noted the report.

The Chief People Officer introduced the report.

It was explained that the proposed changes to the Acting-up and Honorarium Policies were minor and were undertaken to remain compliant with employment regulations. It was explained that the proposed changes had been discussed with Trade Unions.

It was explained that the Council was proposing to introduce a sepcific Sexual Harassment Policy in order to remain compliant with Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) recommendations and with changes to Central Government regulation regarding sexual harassment reporting. It was stressed that the policy would not change any existing processes in the disciplinary policy, which were considered sufficient. 

The proposed changes for employees who become a special guardian or kinship carer were outlined and it was explained that the Council accepted proposed changes to extend pay and leave provisions.

Following questions from Members, it was outlined:

• That secondments onto lower grades would be placed onto the maximum spinal point to minimise income loss.
  
  
• Members asked about arrangements for foster carers and potential flexibility of policies. Officers explained that there was appropriate flexibility in place for special leave arrangements which is undertaken on a case by case basis.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee:

1.            Approved the changes to the Acting Up, Honorarium and Secondment Policy and the introduction of a new Prevention of Sexual Harassment at Work Policy.

2.            Approved the proposed revisions to the Parental Leave Policy to extend pay and leave provisions for employees who become a special guardian or kinship carer.

3.            Noted the HR policies to be presented to this Committee throughout municipal year ending April 2026.

There were none.

The date of the next meeting is scheduled for 9 October 2025.

The date of the next meeting was noted as 9 October 2025