Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillors Stuart Wheeler and Baroness Scott of Bybrook OBE.

To confirm and sign the minutes of the previous meeting held on 4 May 2016.         (Copy attached)

Resolved:

To approve and sign as a true and correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 4 May 2016.

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

There were no declarations.

There were no announcements.

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 (acting on behalf of the Corporate Director) no later than 5pm on Wednesday 29 June 2016. 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 questions or statements submitted.

The Committee discussed appointments to its three sub-committees.

Resolved:

(a)          To appoint the following members to the Senior Officer Appointments Sub-Committee:

Stuart Wheeler, Allison Bucknell, Bob Jones MBE

Substitute Members – Fleur de Rhé-Phillipe, John Smale, Desna Allen, Tony Trotman, David Jenkins, Mike Hewitt

(b)          To appoint the following members to the Appeals Sub-Committee:

Cllr Allison Bucknell, Cllr David Jenkins & Cllr Stuart Wheeler.

Substitute Members: Cllr Fleur de Rhe-Philipe, Cllr Mike Hewitt, Cllr John Hubbard, Cllr Gordon King, Cllr Bill Moss, Cllr Mark Packard & Cllr Ian Thorn.

(c)          To appoint the following members to the Grievance Appeals Sub-Committee:

Cllr Allison Bucknell, Cllr Mike Hewitt & Cllr Gordon King.

Substitute Members: Cllr Peter Evans, Cllr Jon Hubbard, Cllr David Jenkins, Cllr Bill Moss, Cllr Mark Packard, Cllr Ian Thorn & Cllr Tony Trotman.    

A report by the Associate Director, People and Business is attached.

A report was presented by Joanne Pitt, Head of Human Resources and Occupational Development, updating the Committee on the actions taken to recruit and retain social workers since the campaign first commenced in August 2014 following difficulties retaining experienced social workers in both adults and children’s services. Steps had included a marketing supplement, higher profile recruiting, encouraging former social workers to return, and offering improved career prospects and training.

The Committee discussed the update, noting the high turnover common to the social worker profession, and praised the efforts of the teams to make Wiltshire a more attractive location for aspiring and current social workers, and in particular the close working of the service with Human Resources to maximise efforts to improve the situation. 123 appointments had been made in children’s social care, with 53 in adult social care, with significant retention.

The Committee discussed the next steps for the campaign to capitalise on the current momentum, to include a teaching partnership consortium and a collaborative approach to social worker agency pay.

Resolved:

To note the progress of the social work recruitment campaign to date, and the steps taken to improve recruitment and retention in social work roles across children’s and adult services.

A report by the Associate Director, People and Business is attached.

A report was presented by Joanne Pitt, Head of Human Resources and Occupational Development updating the Committee on the National Joint Council pay award negotiated with the National Employers and Unison, Unite and GMB unions. The offer was being implemented even though Unite rejected the offer.

There had been agreement on a 2 year deal of an increase of 1% for employees on spinal points 18 or above as detailed in the report, with larger increases for those on lower scales.

The Committee discussed the impact of the Pay Award as detailed, and noted that future negotiation might be needed with the implementation of the National Living Wage from April 2017, especially on non-teaching staff in schools.

Resolved:

To note the implementation of the two-year pay award for 2016 and 2017.

To note that current work is being undertaken nationally to review the national pay spine and that the committee will be kept up to date regarding progress on this.

A report by the Associate Director, Public Health and Protection is attached.

A report was presented by Paul Collyer, Head of Occupational Health and Safety, on proposed updates to the Misuse of Alcohol, Drugs and other Substances Policy. After a review it had been decided not to proceed with random testing of staff, instead clarifying the expectation on managers to monitor staff and act promptly in the event of reasonable concern, as well as strengthening support given to employees who disclose problems, with facilitation of rehabilitative services.

The Committee discussed the policy, seeking details of how managers would be expected to respond in the event of a disclosure of substance abuse problems, including legal problems such as smoking. In response to queries it was stated in respect of vehicle use, the policy was directed toward those using Fleet vehicles rather than their own vehicles. The council did have a general driving policy which included sections on substance misuse, and the Committee requested this be cross referenced with the proposed Policy.

The Committee discussed other ways the report’s intentions could be strengthened, and also discussed whether a zero tolerance approach for those whose job roles required driving would be appropriate or possible, as was the case with some other professions.

At the conclusion of discussion, it was,

Resolved:

To approve the proposed revised policy and guidance for managers.

To note that the next meeting of this Committee is scheduled to be held on Wednesday 7 September 2016, to be held in the Kennet Room, County Hall, Trowbridge, starting at 10.30am.

The date of the next meeting was confirmed as 7 September 2016.

There were no urgent items.