Agenda and minutes

Apologies from the meeting were received from Councillors; S Atkinson, R Bennett, M Hindle and J Schumann.

The minutes of the meeting held on 27 October 2021 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Members are reminded of their responsibility to declare any disclosable pecuniary, other registrable or non-registrable interest in respect of matters contained in the agenda.

There were no declarations of disclosable pecuniary, other registrable or non-registrable interests.

There was no public participation.

None.

There were no reports from representatives on outside bodies.

Report by Director of Resources

In accordance with the Localism Act 2011, the Director of Resources submitted a report reviewing the Council’s Pay Policy Statement.

Members were reminded that to ensure transparency as to how pay and remuneration was set by the Council, it was a legal requirement for public sector organisations to publish their Pay Policy Statement on an annual basis.

The Pay Policy Statement sets out the existing approach to the remuneration of all posts within the Council. It specifies certain mandatory requirements that must be detailed within the policy. Members were informed that minor corrections would be made to the Statement before it is submitted for approval at the Council meeting on 1 March 2022.

*** RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE

1.    Received the Report.

2.    Authorised the Chief Executive to submit the Pay Policy Statement for 2022/23 to the Full Council at its meeting on 1 March 2022 for approval.

Members were updated on the operation of the Union Facilities Agreement over the last 12 months.

RESOLVED: That by virtue of the next item of business being exempt information under Paragraph 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 the press and public be now excluded from the meeting.

The Director of Resources submitted a report informing Members of general staffing matters since the last committee meeting. The report included information on appointments and resignations, internal movements, establishment changes, training, and retirements.

The report noted that:

·         Three new staff had been appointed between 15 October 2021 and 15 December 2021.

·         In the same period, there had been 13 leavers one of which was an optional retirement.

The Head of Human Resources informed members that CMT at their meeting on 12 January 2022 had approved IRRV (Institute of Revenues Rating and Valuation) qualification training for 4 staff from the Revenue and Benefits Teams.

Members expressed their appreciation of the excellent service the refuse collection teams had provided to the borough over the festive period.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE

1.    Noted and approve the decisions taken by the Chairman as outlined in the report.

2.    Agreed to write letters of thanks to the staff who have left the Council, where appropriate.

3.    Approve the reinstatement of post number C84 – Principal Communication Officer on the Establishment as a full-time post.

The Director of Resources submitted a report updating members on the implementation of the recent pay review.

Members were reminded that at the meeting of the 27 October 2021 Committee recommended a package of proposals to address recruitment and retention issues be submitted to the 9 November 2021 Policy and Finance Committee for approval.  Those proposals were duly approved at the meeting and latterly agreed with UNISON following a ballot of members and receipt of national approval.

Since then, work has been ongoing to process the changes to salaries and they will be implemented in the January pay.

Members were also reminded that the initial remit of the Pay Working Group was to look at pay in respect of staff who were employed on NJC conditions of service and did not consider the pay of those on Chief Officer conditions.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE

1.    Received the report.

2.      Reconvene the Pay Structure Working Group to review the pay of Chief Officers.