Agenda and minutes

Members are asked to declare any interest and the nature of that interest which they may have in any of the items under consideration at this meeting.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Chairman to report on any requests to submit petitions or to address the meeting.

There were no petitions or requests to address the meeting.

The Chairman to advise whether they have agreed to any item of urgent business being admitted to the agenda.

There was no urgent business.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 18 November 2009.

The minutes of the meeting held on 18 November 2009 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Report of the Head of Human Resources

Summary

To give Members of the committee the opportunity to comment on the content and timing of the survey.

Recommendation

To comment on the proposed timing and structure of the staff satisfaction survey.

The Head of Human Resources submitted a report which sought the committee’s comments on the proposed timing and structure of the staff satisfaction survey. The Committee were advised that the survey would be undertaken in March/April following the completion of job evaluation.

The Committee discussed the contents of the survey and the need for equal opportunities monitoring.

Resolved

That the proposed timing and structure of the staff satisfaction survey is agreed.

Report of the Head of Human Resources

Summary

This report details employment statistics, by Directorate, for information and monitoring purposes.

Recommendation

To note the contents of this report

The Head of Human Resources submitted a report which detailed employment statistics for July to September 2009, by Directorate, for information and monitoring purposes. The committee were advised that staff turnover was low and that there was still a freeze on external recruitment.

Resolved

That the contents of the report is noted.

Report of the Head of Human Resources

Summary

To consider introducing an apprenticeship scheme at the Council.

Recommendations

(1)               To create a new position in the Council’s pay and grading structure for Apprentices.

(2)               To approve recruitment into Business Administration Apprentice scheme during 2010, focusing recruitment within the Banbury Deprivation Area, subject to funding and suitably supported and resourced positions being identified across the Council.

The Head of Human Resources submitted a report which proposed an apprenticeship scheme for the Council. The committee were advised that a robust process would be implemented to ensure that staff were prepared and equipped to successfully mentor participants in the scheme.

The committee discussed the qualifications attached to the scheme and the recruitment of participants from areas of deprivation.

Resolved

1)     That a new position in the Council’s pay and grading structure for apprentices is created.

2)     That recruitment into Business Administration Apprentice scheme during 2010, focusing on recruitment within the Banbury Deprivation area, is approved subject to funding and suitably supported and resourced positions being identified across the Council.

The following reports contain exempt information as defined in the following paragraphs of Part 1, Schedule 12A of Local Government Act 1972.

1 - Information relating to any individual.

3– Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

4 – Information relating to any consultations or negotiations, or contemplated consultations or negotiations, in connection with any labour relations matter arising between the authority or a Minister of the Crown and employees of, or office holders under, the authority.

Members are reminded that whilst the following item(s) have been marked as exempt, it is for the meeting to decide whether or not to consider each of them in private or in public. In making the decision, members should balance the interests of individuals or the Council itself in having access to the information. In considering their discretion members should also be mindful of the advice of Council Officers.

Should Members decide not to make a decision in public, they are recommended to pass the following recommendation:

“That, in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business, on the grounds that they could involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1, 3 and 4 of Schedule 12A of that Act.”

Resolved

That, in accordance with Section 100A(4) of Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business, on the grounds that it could involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1, 3 and 4 of Schedule 12A of that Act.

Report of the Chief Executive

Report to follow

The Chief Executive submitted a report which sought approval for the proposed changes to the Extended Management Team.

The committee discussed specifics of the changes including the plans for enforcement and whether the prospect of an enforcement team which dealt with all aspects of enforcement had been considered. The committee were advised that there was no formal plan in place but that that this would be considered in more detail in the future.

The committee also questioned how job evaluation would impact on the proposals and were advised that a small number of jobs had changed responsibilities and that the job evaluation team would consider each of these roles.

The committee requested that Officers circulate a structure chart to the committee which detailed further how the reporting structure of the Extended Management Team would change.

Resolved

1)     That the changes to the structure of Extended Management Team for implementation between December 2009 and March 2010 is agreed.

2)     That Head of Safer Communities and Community Development‘s request to take voluntary redundancy on 31 March 20190 is agreed.