Agenda and minutes

To appoint a Vice-Chair for the duration of the 2023/24 municipal year. 

The Chair requested nominations for the position of Vice-Chair. 

It was proposed by Councillor Caroline Jackson and seconded by Councillor Sue Penney:-

“That Councillor Jason Wood be appointed Vice-Chair of the People and Organisational Development Committee for the municipal year 2023/24. 

There being no further nominations, the proposition was declared carried. 

Resolved:

That Councillor Jason Wood be appointed Vice-Chair of the People and Organisational Development Committee for the municipal year 2023/24. 

Minutes of the meetings of Personnel Committee held on 9^th and 21^st March 2023 attached.  

The minutes of the meetings held on 9^th March 2023 and 21^st March 2023 were approved and signed by the Chair as correct records. 

To receive declarations by Councillors of interests in respect of items on this Agenda.

Councillors are reminded that, in accordance with the Localism Act 2011, they are required to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests which have not already been declared in the Council’s Register of Interests. (It is a criminal offence not to declare a disclosable pecuniary interest either in the Register or at the meeting).  

Whilst not a legal requirement, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 9 and in the interests of clarity and transparency, Councillors should declare any disclosable pecuniary interests which they have already declared in the Register, at this point in the meeting.  

In accordance with Part B Section 2 of the Code Of Conduct, Councillors are required to declare the existence and nature of any other interests as defined in paragraphs 8(1) or 9(2) of the Code of Conduct. 

Councillor Jason Wood declared his interest as an employee and member of UNISON and as a member of Unite the union, these interests being publicly declared. He also declared that his wife is a member of UNISON, Unite the union and GMB. 

There were no items of urgent business. 

Report of the Chief Officer - People and Policy. 

The Chief Officer – People and Policy submitted a report that updated the Committee on the process for the performance management of the Chief Executive and enabled the Committee to appoint a sub-committee panel.  It was noted that the Constitution (People and OD Committee Terms of Reference at 4.2 section e) stated that People and OD Committee will appoint a Panel of (usually of three) from the Committee, including at least one Cabinet member, assisted by one independent adviser, to act as an Appraisal Panel for the Chief Executive. 

It was noted that this process was required by the JNC Conditions of Service for Chief Executives.  Appraisals should take place on a pre-determined date annually, with monitoring meetings throughout the year, and a mid-year review.

It was proposed that, once appointed, the appraisal panel conducts an end of year appraisal review and set objectives for 2023/2024. 

It was moved by Councillor Jason Wood, seconded by Councillor Sue Penney: -

“That a Panel of 4 with membership being the Leader Councillor Phillip Black, Chair of the People and Organisational Development Committee Councillor Professor Chris Harris, Cabinet Member Councillor Caroline Jackson and Councillor Paul Newton.” 

Upon being put to the vote the Chair declared the proposition to be unanimously carried. 

Resolved:-

That a Panel of 4 with membership being the Leader Councillor Phillip Black, Chair of the People and Organisational Development Committee Councillor Professor Chris Harris, Cabinet Member Councillor Caroline Jackson and Councillor Paul Newton. 

Report of the Chief Officer - People and Policy.  (Published on 06.07.23). 

The Chief Officer - People and Policy submitted a report to enable the Committee to consider and approve a range of amendments and additions to existing policies and procedures. 

The Council had undertaken a phase one review of HR Policies which fall into the category of leave, flexible working and recruitment and selection. 

The policy review also concentrated on standardising format and branding of all the HR policies; bringing them in line with the branding selected to produce the employee handbook last year. 

The policies, where content had been amended, were appended to the report, as well as a policy review tracker for ease of sight of which the Committee was asked to consider. 

Each revised policy was introduced and discussed in turn with questions and comments after each item.  The comments and recommended amendments following the meeting of JCC on 5^th July 2023 were reported to the Committee. 

Recruitment and Selection Policy

The recruitment policy had been amended as it was felt that the revised version was too stripped back and that further policy statements on key elements of the recruitment process, timescales and the council’s approach to all recruitment exercises was needed.

Amendments had also been made considering the new People Plan and the Council’s Commitment to the Fair Work Charter. For example, the requirement to consider whether the post can be advertised with a flexibility in the way that the duties can be done (inviting early flexible working requests); and giving freedom to allow posts to be advertised internal only, to assist with development of existing staff and progression opportunities.

As part of the review of this policy the existing outdated Recruitment of Ex Offenders policy, last reviewed in September 2006, had also been removed and sections referring to these matters added to the new Recruitment and Selection Policy.

The policy tracker, appended to the report, advised of further information on the changes to be reviewed.  For this policy these were:

The Committee is recommended to pass the following recommendation in relation to the following item:-

“That, in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act, 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business, on the grounds that it could involve the possible disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 of Schedule 12A of that Act.” 

Members are reminded that, whilst the following item has been marked as exempt, it is for the Committee itself to decide whether or not to consider this in private or in public.  In making the decision, Members should consider the relevant paragraph of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, and also whether the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.  In considering their discretion Members should also be mindful of the advice of Council Officers. 

It was moved by Councillor Jason Wood, seconded by Councillor Paul Newton and resolved as follows. 

Resolved: -

That, in accordance with Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it could involve the possible disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 of Schedule 12A of that Act. 

Report of the Chief Officer - People and Policy. 

The Chief Officer - People and Policy submitted a report to request approval for associated voluntary redundancy costs following restructure consultations to deliver 2023/2024 budget savings following Outcome Based Resourcing (OBR) phase one.

It was moved by Councillor Professor Chris Harris, seconded by Councillor Jason Wood and unanimously resolved as follows:

Resolved: -

That the Committee authorises the approval of associated payments in relation to Voluntary Redundancy appended to the report.