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.

Members declared the following general interests:

Councillor Alaric Rose, Personal, as an employee of MidCounties Co-operative who may have contracts with the Council

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 January 2012.

The minutes of the meeting held on 18 January 2012 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Report of Interim Head of Human Resources

Summary

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

Recommendations

The Personnel Committee is recommended:

(1)               To resolve to note the contents of this report.

The Interim Head of Human Resources submitted a report detailing the employment statistics, by Directorate, for information and monitoring purposes.

Resolved

(1)               That the report be noted.

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

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

Members are reminded that whilst the following item has 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 item of business, on the grounds that it could involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of that Act.”

Resolved

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 item of business, on the grounds that it could involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of that Act.

** Please note that appendices 1 and 2 will follow as the consultation process closed on 26 March 2012 **

Exempt Report of Head of Finance and Procurement

The Head of Finance and Procurement submitted a report which sought support for the staffing aspects of the business case to implement some shared finance functions across Cherwell District Council (CDC) and South Northamptonshire Council (SNC).

In introducing the report, the Committee was advised that a number of options had been considered in relation to finance and procurement functions at both Councils. The joining of services and locations was pursued as the preferred option that would best support the Joint Management Team in a timely manner, deliver the required savings and permit further review once the impact of the Local Government Resources Review, welfare reform and Localism Act 2011 became clear.

The Committee was advised that staff consultation on the business case had concluded on 26 March 2012. This process had included individual meetings with affected staff and joint meetings with staff and unions at both Councils. The Head of Finance and Procurement reported that the business case had been endorsed by the CDC Resources and Performance Scrutiny Board and the SNC Community and Resources Review and Development Committee. Additionally, the Council’s Internal Auditors had reviewed the business case. The Internal Auditors supported the rationale and had suggested some additional areas for implementation officers may wish to consider.

In response to Members’ questions, the Head of Finance and Procurement assured the Committee that the proposal supported the ongoing cycle of work of the service with the structure providing resilience and supporting succession planning.

Resolved

(1)               That the consultation comments and responses contained in the log be noted.

(2)               That the staffing aspects of the Business Case to implement some shared finance and procurement functions across CDC and SNC be endorsed and that authority be delegated to the Head of Finance and Procurement to take all necessary steps to implement the team in compliance with the Organisation Change Policy and in consultation with the HR Managers at both Councils.