Agenda and minutes

Personnel Committee - Tuesday, 2nd February 2016 6.10 p.m.

Venue: Lancaster Town Hall

Contact: Stephen Metcalfe, Democratic Services - telephone 01524 582073, or e-mail sjmetcalfe@lancaster.gov.uk

Items
No.	Item
30.	Minutes Minutes of meeting held on 29^th October, 2015 (previously circulated). Minutes: The minutes of the previous meeting held on 29^th October 2015 were agreed as a correct record.
31.	Declarations of Interest To receive declarations by Members of interests in respect of items on this Agenda. Members 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 10 and in the interests of clarity and transparency, Members 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, Members 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. Minutes: There were no declarations of interest.
32.	Items of urgent business authorised by the Chairman Minutes: There were no items of urgent business.
33.	HR Policy Development & Review PDF 262 KB View the background to item 33. Report of the HR & OD Manager. Additional documents: Draft Sickness Absence Management Policy - PC 02.02.16).pdf , item 33. PDF 574 KB DRAFT Probation & Appointment Review Policy - PC 2.02.16.pdf , item 33. PDF 365 KB Flexible Working (Right to Request) Policy & Procedure - PC 02.02.16.pdf , item 33. PDF 259 KB Draft Mobile Phone and PDA Device Policy - PC 02.02.16.pdf , item 33. PDF 118 KB Draft Unpaid Leave Policy and Procedure - PC 02.02.16.pdf , item 33. PDF 239 KB There are a further 6 documents.View the full list of documents for item 33. Minutes: The Committee considered a report on new and amended Human Resources policies, and sought to determine whether to recommend them to the Personnel Committee for approval. The Committee considered the following new or amended policies in turn: - 1. Sickness Absence Management Policy and Procedure (Revised Document) 2. Probation and Appointment Review Policy and Procedure (Revised Document) 3. Flexible Working (Right to Request) Policy and Procedure (Revised Document) 4. Mobile Phone and Personal Digital Assistant Device Policy (Revised Document) 5. Unpaid Leave Policy and Procedure (New Document) 6. Unpaid Parental Leave Policy and Procedure (Revised Document) 7. Emergency Dependants Leave Policy and Procedure (Revised Document) 8. Bereavement and Compassionate Leave Policy and Procedure (Revised Document) 9. Domestic Violence and Abuse Policy (New Document) 10. Job Grading, Regrading and Appeals Procedure (Revised Document) The Committee was requested to note the draft policy on Alcohol and Substance Misuse and to ask Management to work with the recognised Trade Unions to develop a final draft policy document and implementation plan for consideration at a future JCC meeting. Following consideration of the report and appendices by the JCC the Personnel Committee was requested to approve the policies, subject to the Unpaid Leave Policy and Procedure being amended with the word “unpaid” inserted between the words “Short Term” and “leave” within Section 5.5 and throughout the document. It was reported that the JCC had agreed to the recommendations regarding the draft policy on Alcohol and Substance Misuse and the Personnel Committee was requested to note this recommendation. Resolved: (1) That, subject to the Unpaid Leave Policy and Procedure being amended with the word “unpaid” inserted between the words “Short Term” and “leave” within Section 5.5 and throughout the document, the following policies be approved: - (i) Sickness Absence Management Policy and Procedure (Revised Document). (ii) Probation and Appointment Review Policy and Procedure (Revised Document). (iii) Flexible Working (Right to Request) Policy and Procedure (Revised Document). (iv) Mobile Phone and Personal Digital Assistant Device Policy (Revised Document). (v) Unpaid Leave Policy and Procedure (New Document). (vi) Unpaid Parental Leave Policy and Procedure (Revised Document). (vii) Emergency Dependants Leave Policy and Procedure (Revised Document). (viii) Bereavement and Compassionate Leave Policy and Procedure (Revised Document). (ix) Domestic Violence and Abuse Policy (New Document). (x) Job Grading, Regrading and Appeals Procedure (Revised Document). (2) That the Committee note the draft policy on Alcohol and Substance Misuse and ask Management to work with the recognised Trade Unions to develop a final draft policy document and implementation plan for consideration at a future JCC meeting.
34.	Exclusion of the Press and Public 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 paragraphs 1 and 2 of Schedule 12A of that Act.” Members are reminded that, whilst the following item(s) have been marked as exempt, it is for the Committee itself to decide whether or not to consider each of them 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. Minutes: 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 paragraphs 1 and 2 of Schedule 12A of that Act.
35.	Environmental Services Minor Restructure View the reasons why item 35. is restricted View the background to item 35. Report of the Chief Officer (Environment). Minutes: The Chief Officer (Environment) introduced a report that sought approval for minor changes to the service staffing structure and associated redundancy issues. Resolved unanimously: The resolution is set out in a minute exempt from publication by virtue of paragraphs 1 and 2 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.