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 interests.

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 14 December 2011.

The minutes of the meeting held on 14 December 2011 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Members thanked Anne-Marie Scott for her service to the Council and wished her every success at the London Borough of Hounslow.

Report of Head of Transformation

Summary

The purpose of this report is to request approval from the Committee of the new joint Councils policy on  Discipline and Dismissal Policy, Procedures and Guidance for Statutory Officers of Chief Executive/Monitoring Officer/Section 151 Finance Officer (Appendix A) and the Joint Disciplinary Policy and Procedures for all staff (Appendix B). These two policies are intended to cover all staff employed by both South Northamptonshire Council and Cherwell District Council.

Recommendations

The Committee is recommended to:

(1)       Approve the two disciplinary and dismissal policies and procedures for statutory officers and all staff in Appendices A and B.

The Head of Transformation submitted a report to request approval from the Committee for the new joint Councils policy on  Discipline and Dismissal Policy, Procedures and Guidance for Statutory Officers of Chief Executive/Monitoring Officer/Section 151 Finance Officer and the Joint Disciplinary Policy and Procedures for all staff. The two policies would cover all staff employed by both South Northamptonshire Council and Cherwell District Council.

In the course of discussion members noted that whilst damage to council property and reputation was included this should be elevated in the policy and additionally references to Unison should be made generic to trade unions.

Resolved

(1)       That the two disciplinary and dismissal policies and procedures for statutory officers and all staff (set out in the annex to these minutes as set out in the minute book) be approved.

Report of Head of Transformation

Summary

The purpose of this report is to request approval from the Committee of the new joint Home Working policy. The policy is intended to cover all staff employed in both South Northamptonshire Council and Cherwell District Council.

Recommendations

The Committee is recommended to:

(1)       Endorse the attached Joint Home-Working Policy in Appendix A

The Head of Transformation submitted a report to request approval for the new joint Home Working policy, which would cover all staff employed by both South Northamptonshire Council and Cherwell District Council.

It was noted that the next review of this policy should include information relating to video conferencing.

Resolved

(1)       That the Joint Home-Working Policy (set out in the annex to these minutes as set out in the minute book) be approved.

Head of Transformation

Summary

The purpose of this report is to request approval from this Committee of the Pay Policy for posts within shared teams. The policy is intended to cover all staff employed in shared posts across both South Northamptonshire Council and Cherwell District Council.

Recommendations

The Committee is recommended to:

(1)               Approve the attached Pay Policy for Posts within Shared Teams in Appendix A

The Head of Transformation submitted a report to request approval for the Pay Policy for posts within shared teams. The policy was intended to cover all staff employed in shared posts across both South Northamptonshire Council and Cherwell District Council.

Resolved

(1)       That the  Pay Policy for Posts within Shared Teams (set out in the annex to these minutes as set out in the minute book) be approved.

Report of Head of Transformation

Summary

The purpose of this report is to request approval from the Committee for recommendation to full Council of the new joint Staff Grievance Policy and Procedure (Appendix A). This policy is intended to cover all staff employed in both organisations.

Recommendations

The Committee is recommended to:

(1)       Approve the revised Joint Grievance Policy

The Head of Transformation submitted a report to request approval for the new joint Staff Grievance Policy and Procedure which was intended to cover all staff employed in both organisations.

Resolved

(1)       That the revised Joint Grievance Policy Report of Head of Transformation

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 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.

Report of Head of Transformation

Summary

The purpose of this report is to seek this Committee’s endorsement to the proposed new structure for a shared ICT service, which has been consulted on among staff during December 2011. The detailed HR business case for these changes is attached at Appendix 1.

Recommendations

The Committee is recommended to:

(1)       Endorse the proposed Shared ICT Service, HR Business Case at Appendix 1.

The Head of Transformation submitted a report to seek agreement to the proposed new structure for a shared ICT service, which has been consulted on among staff during December 2011.

Resolved

(1)       That the proposed Shared ICT Service between Cherwell District Council and South Northamptonshire Council, HR Business Case (set out in the annex to these minutes as set out in the minute book) be approved.