Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Cllr John Smale, who was substituted by Cllr Bill Moss.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 9 February 2011. (Copy attached)

Resolved:

To confirm and sign the minutes of the Committee meeting held on 9 February 2011 as a correct record.

There were no declarations of interest.

There were no Chairman’s 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 above 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 above (acting on behalf of the Director of Resources) no later than 5pm on (4 clear working days, e.g. Wednesday of week before for a Wednesday meeting). Please contact the officer named on the first page 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.

Consideration was given to a report by the Service Director HR & OD which provided an update on time off for trade union activities being recorded within Wiltshire Council.

It was noted that whilst recording levels had improved since the system had been introduced in January 2010, there was still a significant shortfall for the period 1 July to 31 October 2010, which suggested that the time allowed had not been fully recorded.  Total recorded trade union activity for this three month period equated to 494 hours per month and there remained a shortfall of 98 hours per month unaccounted. 

The UNISON Branch Secretary confirmed that the recording levels were not complete despite reminders being sent to Branch officers and stewards and confirmed that the allocation of up to 80 days per month were being fully utilised.  Indeed a number of UNISON Branch officials were devoting a fair amount of their own time to trade union activities.

After further discussion during which Members recognised the Council’s good working relationship with the trade unions and the valuable work undertaken by them,

Resolved:

To agree that efforts should be made to improve the time recording system so that it could be reviewed more accurately together with the revised Trade Union Recognition and Facilities Agreement in July 2011.

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

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

Resolved:

To approve the maternity support and paternity leave 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 equality and diversity policy and procedure.

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

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

Resolved:

(1)          To approve the abolition of a Default Retirement Age, to be reviewed in 12 months’ time when further clarification and case law might be available.

(2)          To request the officers to investigate the feasibility of a fitness to work procedure for retirement cases.

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

The Committee received quarterly workforce reports excluding schools for the quarter ended 31 December 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 or lower quartiles in some instances.

Resolved:

(1)       To note the contents of the report.

(2)       To request a short report on the rationale for benchmarking arrangements.

To note that the next meeting is scheduled to be held on Wednesday 18 May 2011, starting at 10.30am.

Resolved:

To note that the next meeting was scheduled to be held on Wednesday 18 May 2011, starting at 10.30am.

There were no urgent items.