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.

None.

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 meeting held on 25 March 2019.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 25 March 2019 be approved.

The purpose of this report is to provide the Committee with recommendations for a change to the payment schedule for the Children’s Services Social Worker Offer.

Ian Morgan, Reward Strategy Manager, introduced the report as set out.  There were particular problems recruiting / retaining social workers within Children’s Services, which was not unusual across other local authorities.  2015/16 saw the introduction of a recruitment / retention payment, however, the increase in recruitment of social workers has had a knock on effect on the payment schedule of the retention offer.  The purpose of the paper was to therefore amend the payment schedule so that once an officer moved to the retention offer, they would be paid pro-rata in January and July.

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

-           The purpose of the recruitment and retention offer was to encourage the recruitment of experienced social workers.  There were separate programmes in place for the recruitment of newly qualified social workers.

-           Since the implementation, there had been around a 5% reduction in the use of agency staff.  Further information could be provided in an update to the next meeting.

RESOLVED that the amendments to the payment schedule for the Children’s Services Social Worker Offer be approved.

The purpose of this report is to provide the Committee with recommendations for the future which will focus members’ time on the appointment of the most senior officers of the Council in order to maintain the transparent link between our Constitution, our statutory obligations and the organisation of the senior management team.

In accordance with Article 14.03, changes to the Constitution are approved by the Full Council on the recommendation of the Standards Committee. It is good practice to also consult with the relevant Committee, in this case, Staffing and Remuneration Committee, to obtain the Committee’s views on the proposal.

Ian Morgan, Reward Strategy Manager, introduced the report as set out.  The purpose of the report was for the Committee to consider the proposed changes to Part 4, Section K of the Council’s Constitution and provide any comments to the Standards Committee.

The Committee made the following points and requested that these points, along with clarification from Legal be provided to the Standards Committee:

Part 4, Section K

Paragraph 7 (a) – were there any provisions for where investigations may take longer than two months?

Post meeting response: this is a statutory requirement under the Local Authorities Standing Orders Regs 2001, Schedule 3, Paragraph 3.

Paragraph 6 (c) – this did not seem to be relevant to Haringey Council, as it seemed to refer to an Executive Mayor – could this be removed?

Post meeting response: this can be removed.

Paragraph 9 – the definitions did not include the Chief Executive – should this post be listed?

Post meeting response: Chief Executive could be added to the list of Corporate Board members.

Paragraph 4 (b) referred to the appointment / dismissal / discipline of the CE of Alexandra Palace as not being under the remit of the S&R Committee, however paragraph 9 included the Chief Executive of Alexandra Palace under the definition of Director.  Clarity was sought as to the meaning of ‘as appropriate’ – what areas of the role were covered if Paragraph 4 (a) did not apply to the CE of Alexandra Palace?

Post meeting response: For the purposes of Part 4 Section K, the CE of Alexandra Palace does not need to be included in the definition of ‘Director’.  This definition applies and is relevant under the Officer Scheme of Delegation at Part 3, Section E, Part 1.

Paragraph 9 – definitions.  Clarity was sought on the listing of the posts under ‘Corporate Board’ and whether any change to the post name would mean that the rules of Part 4 Section K did not apply until the Constitution had been updated.

Post meeting response: Changes to post names can be updated and approved by the Assistant Director of Corporate Governance, and would not require a decision by Full Council to do so.  All posts under the definition of ‘Director’ would be under the remit of S&R.

Clarity was sought in relation to the number of posts that the Committee would no longer be involved with.

Post meeting response: In practice, currently this would affect four posts:

o      Head of Programme Delivery

o      Head of Construction Related Property Delivery

o      Chief Information Officer

o      Capital Accountant

All posts under the definition of ‘Director’ would be under the remit of S&R.

The Committee requested that responses to these queries be provided to the Standards Committee on 25 June 2019 for their information whilst considering the report.

RESOLVED that the amendment to Part Four, Section K of the Council’s Constitution ‘Officer Employment Procedure Rules’ be noted.

To provide the Staffing and Remuneration Committee with an update on the Council’s apprenticeship schemes since the Government implemented the apprenticeship levy and public sector apprenticeship targets in April 2017.

Daksha Desai, Acting Head of HR & Head of Workforce Programmes, and Maxine Sobers, Workforce Resourcing Manager introduced the report as set out.

The Government had introduced the Apprenticeship Levy in April 2017, and it was an area which needed improvement within the Authority.  The levy for Haringey was approximately £862,000 per year (including schools), and the apprenticeship target for public bodies was to appoint 50 apprentices per year.  There had been a London-wide struggle for boroughs to meet this target.

The following was provided in response to questions from the Committee:

-          In Haringey, there had been 36 apprenticeships created.  14 of these were new staff, and 22 internal staff.  For schools, there were 18 new staff and 5 internal staff apprenticeships created.

-          The main challenges were that apprenticeships were not always readily available, and they required a dedicated resource and central fund.  A report would be put to the Council’s Corporate Board to develop a strategic plan.

-          There was a need for a central fund to pay for salaries – the levy paid to the Government could only be used for training purposes.

-          All levy contributions expired monthly after 24 months, and is redistributed by the HMRC to small businesses.  So far, there had been £62,000 of expired funding.

-          Where other boroughs had been successful in providing apprenticeship schemes, this was because they had a team of people, and long established programmes in place.  Prior to 2015, Haringey had not introduced any apprenticeships for some time.

The Chair requested that regular progress updates be provided to the Committee.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

The purpose of this report is to provide the Committee with recommendations for the Dignity at Work Policy to replace the existing policy on Bullying and Harassment.

Ian Morgan, Reward Strategy Manager, introduced the report as set out.  The report sought approval of the Dignity at Work Policy.  Officers had worked closely with the Trade Unions and had incorporated most of the comments made.

RESOLVED that the Dignity at Work Policy be approved.

The purpose of this report is to provide the Committee with recommendations for the review and update of the Council’s Code of Conduct.

Ian Morgan, Reward Strategy Manager, introduced the report as set out.  The tone of the policy had changed considerably, and aimed to be not only conforming with current legislation, but to be ahead of it.

RESOLVED that the Code of Conduct be approved.

The People Report is designed to give officers and members relevant workforce data in an easy to understand format in order to support informed strategic decision making.

Ian Morgan, Reward Strategy Manager, introduced the report as set out.  It was noted that although the headcount of interims had slightly reduced, the cost had increased.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

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

None.

1 October 2019

16 December 2019

6 February 2020

1 October 2019