Agenda and minutes

Apologies from the meeting were received from Councillor S Atkinson.

The minutes of the meeting held on 20 March 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.

Report of the Chief Executive enclosed

The Chief Executive submitted a report asking committee to consider the reappointment of the HR working group under the remit of this committee and decide upon the membership.

It was noted at the meeting that a local by-election would be held on 4 July 2024 for St Mary’s Ward which may change the political balance on the Council. As a Working Group meeting was not required at that time Committee agreed to defer the decision to the next Committee meeting of 28 August 2024, once the new Member had been elected.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

Defer the appointment of Members to the HR Working Group to the next Committee meeting of 28 August 2024.

Report of the Director of Economic Development and Planning enclosed.

The Director of Economic Development and Planning submitted a report to update Members of an extension of the current temporary contract for the Housing Strategy Officer’s post to increase the hours by 0.5 a day until 30 March 2025.

The extension of hours would support the delivery of the Council’s duties under the Domestic Violence Act at an estimated additional cost to the Council of £6,165 (£7,768 after department overheads) which would be funded from the Housing and Community Domestic Abuse Burdens Funding.

Report of the Director of Resources and Temp P/T Chief Executive enclosed.

The Director of Resources and Temp P/T Chief Executive submitted a report providing an update to Members about legislative and process changes of Council policies.

The report outlined the key updates for each policy, which included:

·       Flexible Working – Updated policy

·       Time off for Carers – New policy

·       Time off for Dependents – New policy

·       Flexible Working Hours Scheme (Flexi Time Scheme) – Updated Policy

·       Paternity Leave – Updated Policy

·       Redundancy Protection – New Policy

Report of the Chief Executive enclosed.

The Chief Executive presented a report that reviewed the Council’s management of Health, Safety and Welfare over the period April 2023 to March 2024.

The report noted the Council’s significant hazards in relation to Health and Safety, and the measures in place to manage the associated risks.

The report noted that during the 2023-2024 period there had been 80 accidents recorded, of these 64 occurred at the swimming pool and were mostly slips and trips.  There had been 11 accidents involving members of staff and 5 involving members of the public excluding those at the swimming pool.

The Council’s Audit Section had carried out a review of Corporate Health and Safety in accordance with the agreed 2022/2023 Internal Audit Plan resulting in a number of actions to ensure the effectiveness of the Health and Safety Management System. A review of risk assessments was being undertaken by Heads of Service with the involvement of their staff and assistance of the Health and Safety Advisor.

None.

There were no minutes of Working Groups.

None.

There were no reports from representatives on outside bodies.

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

Report of the Chief Executive enclosed.

The Chief Executive submitted a report for Committee to consider an application for flexible retirement from the Council’s Health and Safety Advisor/Emergency Planning Officer.

The report reminded Committee of the eligibility criteria under the Local Government Pension Scheme and detailed the Council’s Early Retirement Policy.

The Council’s Corporate Management Team had considered the request and recommended that the current post be changed to two part time job share posts:

i)                2½ days Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday am

ii)               2½ days Wednesday pm, Thursday, Friday

The report noted that under flexible retirement there would be no pension strain cost on the council.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

1.     Approve the flexible retirement request with effect from 1 July 2024; and

2.     Amend the establishment to make the Health and Safety Advisor/Emergency Planning Officer post job share.

Report of the Chief Executive enclosed.

The Chief Executive submitted a report for Committee to consider an application for flexible retirement from the Council’s Typing Centre Administration Officer.

The report reminded Committee of the eligibility criteria under the Local Government Pension Scheme and detailed the Council’s Early Retirement Policy.

The Council’s Corporate Management Team had considered the request and recommended that the application was granted and that the current post was changed to a part time post to reflect the gradual reduction in the Typing Centre’s workload which was expected to continue.

The report noted that under flexible retirement there would be no pension strain cost on the council.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

1.     Approve the flexible retirement request with effect from 7 April 2025; and

2.     Amend the establishment to make the Typing Centre Administration Officer post part time from April 2025.

Report of the Chief Executive enclosed.

The Chief Executive submitted a report for Committee to consider an application for flexible retirement from the Council’s Environmental Health Officer (Housing).

The report reminded Committee of the eligibility criteria under the Local Government Pension Scheme and detailed the Council’s Early Retirement Policy.

The Council’s Corporate Management Team had considered the request recommended that the application was granted and that the current post was changed to a part time post with the remainder of the post to be filled by either an Environmental Health Officer or failing that, an Environmental Health Technician.

The report noted that under flexible retirement there would be no pension strain cost on the council.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

1.     Approve the flexible retirement request with effect from 18 September 2024; and

2.     Amend the establishment to make the Environmental Health Officer (Housing) post part time job share from 18 September 2024.

Report of the Chief Executive enclosed.

The Chief Executive submitted a report for Committee to consider payment of honorarium to a member of staff who had covered the duties of a more senior post. The factors and financial implications to be considered when assessing the application was set out in the report.

As the honorarium payment had been requested at a number of meetings, Committee requested a report updating Members of the long-term action plan to cover the post.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

1.     Agree to the honorarium payment to the member of staff as set out in the report.

2.     Request a report from the Director of Community Services informing Committee of the action plan.

Report of the Director of Resources and Temp P/T Chief Executive enclosed.

The Director of Resources & Temp P/T Chief Executive submitted a report informing members on 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 1 new staff member had been appointed between 16 March 2024 and 15 May 2024 and that there had been 1 leaver in the same period. The report noted that there had been 1 work experience placement in the reporting period. Letters of thanks were to be sent to the staff who had left the Council, where appropriate.

Committee were updated in regard to a new starter who had been appointed to a training post in the Environmental Health Section. The post had been previously approved to provide training to the successful applicant and Committee therefore delegated responsibility to the Chief Executive to approve the training request subject to completion of the Council’s training contract.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

Delegate responsibility to the Chief Executive to approve and arrange the required training course for a new starter to the post of Environmental Health Technical Officer (Food, Health & Safety).