Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Cllr Jane Scott OBE, who was substituted by Cllr Bill Moss.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 12 October 2010. (Copy attached)

Resolved:

To confirm and sign the minutes of the Committee meeting held on 12 October 2010 as a correct record.

To receive any declarations of personal or prejudicial interests or dispensations granted by the Standards Committee.

There were no declarations of interest.

There were no Chairman’s announcements.

The Council welcomes contributions from members of the public.

If you would like to make a statement at this meeting on any item on this agenda, please register to do so at least 10 minutes prior to the meeting.  Up to 3 speakers are permitted to speak for up to 3 minutes each on any agenda item. Please contact the officer named above for any further clarification.

Members of the public wishing to ask a question should give written notice (including details of any question) to the officer named above by  12.00noon on Monday 22 November 2010.

There were no members of the public present.

A report by the Service Director HR & OD is attached.

The Committee received a report by the Service Director HR & OD which provided an update on the Management Review.

Agreement with the recognised trade unions, UNISON, UNITE and GMB, had been reached following a series of negotiation meetings and the outcome of a GMB ballot confirming it’s members acceptance of the proposed changes to those polices.  A number of meetings had been held regarding the need to make savings over the next four years and copies of the statements issued by the Chief Executive and Unison are appended to these Minutes at Appendix A and B respectively.

It was noted that the deadline for applications for voluntary redundancy was Friday 26 November 2010 and that the number of staff making application would be known during the early part of the following week.  Further applications would be invited from those staff who remained displaced following completion of the appointments procedure.

Comments and alternative suggestions about the proposed new management structures had been invited from all staff and the deadline for this feedback was 26 November 2010.

A further meeting of the Extended Leadership Team (ELT) was due to be held on 29 November 2010 to go through the next stages of the 90 day consultation period, including:-

·        Completing the voluntary redundancy scoring matrix

·        Managing voluntary redundancies and the leaver process

·        Completing the ownership and ring fencing process

·        Re-opening voluntary applications where appropriate

Resolved:

To note the latest position.

A report by the Service Director HR & OD is attached.

On considering a report by the Service Director HR & OD which presented an updated Disciplinary Policy and Procedure together with the toolkit of guidance documents,

Resolved:

To support and approve the revised Disciplinary Policy and Procedure.

A report by the Service Director HR & OD is attached.

On considering a report by the Service Director HR & OD,

Resolved:

To support and approve the revised Grievance Policy and Procedure.

A report by the Service Director HR & OD is attached.

On considering a report by the Service Director HR & OD,

Resolved:

To support and approve the proposed Appeals Policy and Procedure.

A report by the Service Director HR & OD is attached.

On considering a report by the Service Director HR & OD,

Resolved:

To support and approve the proposed Career Break Scheme.

A report by the Service Director HR & OD is attached.

On considering a report by the Service Director HR & OD,

Resolved:

To support and approve the Policy for the Procurement of Temporary Agency/Interim and Consultancy Staff.

A report by the Service Director HR & OD is attached.

On considering a report by the Service Director HR & OD,

Resolved:

(1)       To note the content of the report.

(2)       To adopt the local agreement.

(3)       To agree that compliance with the protocol be confirmed in all recommendations to Cabinet for externalisation involving staff.

A report by the Service Director HR & OD is attached.

On considering a report by the Service Director HR & OD,

Resolved:

To adopt the former Wiltshire County Council’s Employers Discretion Policy in relation to Local Government Pension Scheme Regulations.

A report by the Service Director HR & OD is attached.

The Committee received quarterly workforce reports excluding schools for the quarter ended 30 September 2010 concerning:-

Headcount and Full Time Equivalent

Age Profile

Employee Diversity

Sickness Absence

Health and Safety

Voluntary Staff Turnover

Disciplinary and Grievance Cases

Members of the Committee questioned the reasoning for setting the benchmark at the upper quartile in some instances and suggested that it be set at the median in all cases.

Resolved:

(1)       To note the contents of the report.

(2)       To set all benchmarks at the median.

To note that the next meeting is due to be held on Thursday 16 December 2010, starting at 10.30am.

Resolved:

To note that the next meeting was due to be held on Thursday 16 December 2010, starting at 10.30am.

Any other items of business which, in the opinion of the Chairman, should be considered as a matter of urgency. Urgent items of a confidential nature may be considered under Part II of this agenda.

There were no urgent items.