Issue - meetings

Report of the Chief Executive.

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Thomas)

The Chief Executive submitted a report to seek Cabinet’s approval to the filling of established vacancies where recommended and to review the process for approval to the filling of established vacancies.

The options, options analysis, including risk assessment, were set out in the report as follows:

Approval for the filling of current vacancies

The information contained within each form provides details related to the risks of not filling the related vacancy.  Cabinet has the option of releasing funding on either a time limited or permanent basis or withholding funding.  If funding is not released, there will be an impact on Service provision.  If funding is time limited, it will be more difficult and possibly more expensive to fill a post.

The Officer preferred option is to fill those posts as recommended by Service Heads unless Cabinet identifies the work as being of a low priority.

Review of process for the filling of established vacancies

(a)        That the status quo is maintained, whereby Cabinet approval is required for the filling of established vacancies.

(b)        That the process set out in 1.3 of the report is reinstated (the procedure that was in place prior to Cabinet resolving to implement the current process).

The Officer preferred option is that Cabinet reinstates the previous process of Service Head delegation, noting that Cabinet Members can discuss turnover issues with Service Heads in the Services they oversee.

It was moved by Councillor Langhorn and seconded by Councillor Archer:-

“That the recommendations, as set out in the report, be approved.”

Members then voted:-

Resolved:

(8 Members (Councillors Archer, Ashworth, Barry, Blamire, Bryning, Fletcher, Kerr and Langhorn) voted in favour, 1 Member (Councillor Mace) voted against and 1 Member (Councillor Thomas) abstained)

(1)        That Cabinet agrees that the vacancies recommended for filling by Service Heads are filled as soon as possible.

(2)        That the Revenue Budget be updated accordingly, for any deleted or deferred posts.

(3)               That Cabinet reinstates the previous process of Service Head delegation, noting that Cabinet Members can discuss turnover issues with Service Heads in the Services they oversee.

Officers responsible for effecting the decision:

Chief Executive

Head of Financial Services.

Reasons for making the decision:

Resolution (1) enables the decision made at Cabinet on 11^th November 2008, removing the delegated decision making to fill employee vacancies away from Service Heads to Cabinet, to be implemented.

Resolution (3) removes the extra layer of bureaucracy added by Cabinet’s involvement by returning to the procedure in place prior to 11^th November 2008, whilst noting that Cabinet Members can discuss turnover issues with Service Heads in the Services they oversee.

Report of the Chief Executive.

(Any vacancy forms received will be sent out to follow)

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Bryning)

The Chief Executive submitted a report seeking Cabinet’s approval to the filling of established vacancies where recommended and to note a decision taken under the Council’s urgent business procedure.

The options, options analysis, including risk assessment, were set out in the report as follows:

The information contained within each form provides details related to the risks of not filling the related vacancy.  Cabinet has the option of releasing funding on either a time limited or permanent basis or withholding funding.  If funding is not released, there will be an impact on Service provision.  If funding is time limited, it will be more difficult and possibly more expensive to fill a post.

Officer Preferred Option (and comments):

To fill those posts as recommended by Service Heads unless Cabinet identifies the work as being of a low priority.

It was moved by Councillor Kerr and seconded by Councillor Fletcher:-

“That the recommendations, as set out in the report, be approved.”

Members then voted:-

Resolved:

(8 Members (Councillors Archer, Barry, Blamire, Bryning, Burns, Fletcher, Gilbert and Kerr) voted in favour and 2 Members (Councillors Charles and Mace) voted against)

(1)        That Cabinet Members agree that the vacancies recommended for filling by Service Heads are filled as soon as possible.

(2)        That the action taken by the Chief Executive, in consultation with the relevant Cabinet Member and the Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in accordance with the Scheme of Delegation, in respect of the following vacancy, be noted:-

(a)     That the Conditions of Employment of the temporary holder of post PL0096 in Planning Services be amended to extend the fixed term contract on a reduction in hours to 18.5 on a temporary basis to accommodate a request from the substantive post holder to work half time for a period of 12 months following maternity leave, under the Family Leave Scheme policy.

(b)     That the call in be waived in accordance with Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rule 17 to allow immediate implementation.

(3)        That the Revenue Budget be updated accordingly, for any deleted or deferred posts.

Officers responsible for effecting the decision:

Chief Executive.

Reasons for making the decision:

The decisions enable the decision made at Cabinet on 11^th November 2008, removing the delegated decision making to fill employee vacancies away from Service Heads to Cabinet, to be implemented. It was noted that, unless Cabinet decide otherwise, there will be no further reporting of employee vacancies after the April Cabinet meeting.

Report of the Chief Executive.

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Bryning)

The Chief Executive submitted a report seeking Cabinet’s approval for the filling of established vacancies where recommended. 

The options, options analysis, including risk assessment, were set out in the report as follows:

The information contained within each form provides details related to the risks of not filling the related vacancy.  Cabinet has the option of releasing funding on either a time limited or permanent basis or withholding funding.  If funding is not released, there will be an impact on Service provision.  If funding is time limited, it will be more difficult and possibly more expensive to fill a post.

The officer preferred option is to fill those posts as recommended by Service Heads unless Cabinet identifies the work as being of a low priority.

It was moved by Councillor Bryning and seconded by Councillor Blamire:-

“(1)      That the increase in hours for post CL0372 be approved.

(2)        That posts CL0325 and PL0042 be filled as recommended in the reports.”

Resolved:

(4 Members (Councillors Blamire, Bryning, Gilbert and Kerr) voted in favour, 2 Members (Councillors Charles and Mace) voted against and 3 Members (Councillor Archer, Barry and Fletcher) abstained.)

(1)        That the increase in hours for post CL0372 be approved.

(2)        That posts CL0325 and PL0042 be filled as recommended.

It was moved by Councillor Barry and seconded by Councillor Fletcher:-

“(3)      That the reduction in hours of post TC0014 be approved.”

Resolved:

(6 Members (Councillors Archer, Barry, Bryning, Fletcher, Gilbert and Kerr) voted in favour, 2 Members (Councillors Charles and Mace) voted against and 1 Member (Councillor Blamire) abstained.)

(3)        That the reduction in hours of post TC0014 be approved.

It was proposed by Councillor Barry and seconded by Councillor Bryning:-

“(4)      That posts CH0077 and CH0283 be filled as recommended.”

Members then voted as follows:-

Resolved:

(7 Members (Councillors Archer, Barry, Blamire, Bryning, Fletcher, Gilbert and Kerr) voted in favour and 2 Members (Councillors Charles and Mace) voted against.)

(4)        That posts CH0077 and CH0283 be filled as recommended.

Officer responsible for effecting the decisions:

Chief Executive

Reasons for making the decisions:

The decisions enable the decision made at Cabinet on 11^th November 2008, removing the delegated decision making to fill employee vacancies away from Service Heads to Cabinet to be implemented.

Report of the Chief Executive (forms to follow).

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Roger Mace)

The Chief Executive submitted a report to seek Cabinet’s approval to the filling of established vacancies where recommended. 

The options, options analysis, including risk assessment, were set out in the report as follows:

The information contained within each form provides details related to the risks of not filling the related vacancy. Cabinet has the option of releasing funding on either a time limited or permanent basis or withholding funding. If funding is not released, there will be an impact on Service provision. If funding is time limited, it will be more difficult and possibly more expensive to fill a post

The Officer preferred option was to fill those posts as recommended by Service Heads unless Cabinet identifies the work as being of a low priority.

It was moved by Councillor Mace and seconded by Councillor Charles:-

“That Cabinet notes the presumption that staffing vacancies are not filled, and resolves as follows:-

CL0358     Reject recommendation - delete post - i.e. accepting that this reduces service level  

CH0272    Partially accept proposal - raise to 3/4 post for current job share - review after 31 March 09

CH0040    Accept recommendation - reason: contract with County

CH0018    Recruit new 1/2 job share

CH0162    Temporary appointment, not exceeding term of contract with County

CH0092    Agree proposal

CH0056    Internal advert only / potential redeployment opportunity

CS0309    Temporary appointment, not exceeding duration of agreed external funding

New Post  Temporary appointment, not exceeding duration of agreed external funding

PL0032     Hold vacant for remainder of 08-9: i.e. accepting that this reduces service level - and review after 31 March 2009

RS0514    Accept recommendation - reason related cost saving

RS0192    Accept recommendation to defer for 3 months and review position then

RS0165    Accept recommendation - reason corporate service

RS0401    Accept recommendation - consider secondment possibilities to cover maternity leave

RS0005    Accept recommendation - potential workload for head of service”

By way of amendment, Councillor Barry proposed and Councillor Fletcher seconded:

“(1)      That all posts be filled except Post CL0358 to be held vacant until January 2009 and Post RS0192 to be deferred for three months and then reviewed

(2)               Cabinet identifies in January where priorities are in the establishment and where savings can be made”

On being put to the vote, 4 Members voted in favour (Councillors Barry, Blamire, Fletcher and Gilbert), 3 Members voted against (Councillors Charles, Kerr and Mace) and two members abstained (Councillors Archer and Burns) whereupon the Chairman declared the amendment to be carried.

Members then voted on the substantive motion as follows:-

Resolved:

4 Members (Councillors Barry, Blamire, Fletcher and Gilbert) voted in favour, 3 Members (Councillors Charles, Kerr and Mace) voted against and 2 members (Councillors Archer and Burns) abstained.

(1)               That all posts be filled except Post CL0358 to be held vacant until January 2009 and also Post RS0192 to be deferred for three months and the position reviewed then

(2)               Cabinet identifies in January where priorities are in the establishment and where  ...  view the full minutes text for item 101