Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies from the meeting were received from Councillors D Birtwhistle and R Elms (Chairman).

The minutes of the meeting held on 28 August 2024 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Vice-Chairman.

The Chief Executive provided Members with an update on the recruitment of apprentices. He also confirmed that the Carbon Literacy Training was arranged for the following week, and that the pay award for 2024/25 had now been agreed.

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.

The Chief Executive submitted a report informing Committee of a new duty on employers to prevent sexual harassment and seeking approval of a policy and procedures to ensure compliance with that duty.

The report set out the definition of sexual harassment in the workplace and the existing duties placed on employers under the Equality Act 2010 (EqA10). A private members bill had been introduced in 2022, resulting in a new duty titled The Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Act 2023, which came into force on 26 October 2024.

A new Sexual Harassment Policy was recommended for consideration by Committee which was attached to the report. Further procedural measures were also set out in the report and were recommended for approval to ensure compliance with the duty, namely:

·       Staff training

·       Registering and reporting complaints

·       Investigation of complaints

·       Risk assessments

It was clarified at the meeting that this was a staff policy and that the Councillor Code of Conduct applied to Councillors.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

1.     Approve the Sexual Harassment policy.

2.     Note and approve the procedures which the Council is to put in place to ensure compliance with the duty.

Report of the Chief Executive enclosed.

The Chief Executive submitted a report informing Committee about the year-end report for 2023/2024 detailing performance against the Council’s local performance indicators.

Analysis showed that of the 23 Personnel Services key performance indicators (KPIs) that could be compared to target:

• 35% (8) of the KPIs met target (green) and were on track
• 4% (1) of the KPIs were close to target
• 61% (14) of the KPIs provided data only

Of the 23 Personnel Service KPIs where performance trend could be compared over the years:

·       35% (8) of the KPIs had improved

·       4% (1) of the KPIs stayed the same

·       61% (14) of the KPIs provided data only and could not be compared to previous years

Further detailed information was provided in the report. It was confirmed at the meeting that the KPIs were being reviewed in line with the Corporate Plan 2023-2027 to ensure they were both useful and measured success in achievement against the Council’s aims and objectives.

There are no items under this heading

There were no minutes of working groups.

There are no items under this heading

There were no reports from representatives on outside bodies.

RESOLVED: That by virtue of the next item of business being exempt information under Paragraphs 1 and 2 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 Director of Resources and Deputy Chief Executive enclosed.

The Chief Executive submitted a report for Committee to consider payments of honorarium to two members of staff who had covered the duties of more senior posts. The factors and financial implications to be considered when assessing the applications were set out in the report.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

Agree to the honorarium payments to the members of staff as set out in the report.

The Director of Resources and Deputy 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 three new members of staff had been appointed between 16 August 2024 and 15 October 2024 and that there had been seven leavers in the same period. Letters of thanks were to be sent to the staff who had left the Council, where appropriate.