Agenda and minutes

 There were no apologies for absence.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 21 September 2011.         (Copy attached)

Resolved:

To confirm and sign the minutes of the Committee meeting held on 21 September 2011.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Committee was informed that, although discussions were ongoing at national level, it was expected that local government workers, including teaching and non teaching staff in schools and colleges, would take industrial action on Wednesday 30 November 2011 in opposition to the Government’s proposals concerning the Local Government Pension Scheme, England and Wales.

An explanation was given of the contingency plans the Council had in place to minimise the disruption of services particularly to the vulnerable and infirm members of society.   The Chairman requested that the Committee’s thanks and appreciation be conveyed to those members of staff who were working to minimise the effects of the potential strike action.     

The Council welcomes contributions from members of the public.

Statements

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 on the front of the agenda for any further clarification.

Questions

To receive any questions from members of the public or members of the Council received in accordance with the constitution. Those wishing to ask questions are required to give notice of any such questions in writing to the officer named on the front of the agenda no later than 5pm on Wednesday 16 November 2011. Please contact the officer named on the front of this agenda for further advice. Questions may be asked without notice if the Chairman decides that the matter is urgent.

Details of any questions received will be circulated to Committee members prior to the meeting and made available at the meeting and on the Council’s website.

There were no members of the public present or councillors’ questions.

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

The Chairman reported that the item had been withdrawn from the agenda due to the very recent receipt of advice from the Inland Revenue which required consideration by the officers.  It was anticipated that a revised report would be ready for consideration at the next meeting of this Committee.

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

Consideration was given to a report by the Service Director HR & OD which sought approval to the harmonisation of five smoking policies which had been implemented prior reorganisation in April 2009.

Resolved:

To approve the new Smoking 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 approve the revised Moving Home Allowance Policy.

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

The Committee received quarterly workforce reports excluding schools for the quarter ended 30 September 2011 concerning:-

Staffing Levels

Workforce Information

Sickness Absence

Health and Safety

Disciplinary and Grievance Cases

Voluntary Staff Turnover

The report also set out information relating to Workforce Costs and Benchmark Data.

Resolved:

To note the contents of the report and to request information on the take up of support for stress related absences at the next meeting.

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

Consideration was given to a report by the Service Director, HR & OD which,

(1)       set out workforce and recruitment information for the year relating to 2010/11, and

(2)       identified the actions that Wiltshire Council had and was continuing to take to meet both statutory requirements and the Council’s employment commitments under the Equality Act 2010 and subsequent public sector equality duties.

During the following debate, Members of the Committee noted that the highest percentage of leavers was from the under 25 year age band with 33.7% leavers within that category, i.e. 209 out of 620 staff leavers.

Resolved: 

(1)          To note the contents of the report.  

(2)          To request a report for the next meeting setting out a more detailed analysis about leavers under the age of 25 years, giving reasons for these departures, how long staff in this category had been working for the Authority before leaving and what measures were being taken to recruit and retain them.

A joint report by the Service Director HR & OD and the Secretary Wiltshire UNISON is attached.

The Committee considered a joint report by the Service Director HR & OD and the Secretary, Wiltshire UNISON which sought a review of the current Trade Union Recognition and Facilities Agreement.

It was noted that in July 2010 this Committee had agreed a revised Trade Union Recognition and Facilities Agreement on the proviso that this be reviewed in 12 months’ time.  At its meeting on 28 July 2010 this Committee resolved:

“To request that a systematic recording of approved time off be continued and that a report on this be presented to the Committee in six months’ time.”

A report was presented to Staffing Policy Committee on 9 March 2011, with the recommendation that the time recording system remain in place and be reviewed together with the revised Trade Union Recognition and Facilities Agreement in July 2011.

The Committee recognised the valuable work and support to staff carried out by the Trade Unions, and in particular by UNISON, which had led to £9.4 million savings.

Resolved:

a)        To approve the proposed amendments to the Trade Union Recognition and Facilities Agreement.

b)        To agree the amended Trade Union Recognition and Facilities Agreement for a further 12 months

The minutes of the Senior Officers Employment Sub-Committee held on 2 November 2011 are attached for information only.

Resolved:

To receive and note the minutes of the Senior Officers Employment Sub-Committee dated 2 November 2011.

To note that the next meeting is scheduled to be held on Wednesday 11 January 2012, starting at 10.30am.

Resolved:

To note that the next meeting was due to be held on Wednesday 11 January 2012, starting at 10.30am.

There were no items of urgent business.

To consider passing the following resolution:-

To agree that in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 to exclude the public from the meeting for the business specified in Item No. 16 because it is likely that if members of the public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 of Part I of Schedule 12A to the Act and the public interest in withholding the information outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information to the public.

Resolved:

To agree that in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 to exclude the public from the meeting for the business specified in Minute No. 101 because it is likely that if members of the public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 of Part I of Schedule 12A to the Act and the public interest in withholding the information outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information to the public.

A confidential report by the Service Director HR & OD and the Service Director, Adult Care is attached.  

On considering a confidential report by the Service Director HR & OD and the Service Director, Adult Care (Operations),

Resolved:

To approve the early release of both the member of staff’s active and deferred pension benefits on compassionate grounds, as set out in the report.