Agenda and minutes
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Contact: James Kinsella, Governance Manager Tel: 020 8937 2063; Email: james.kinsella@brent.gov.uk
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Apologies for absence and clarification of alternate members Minutes: Apologies for absence were received from Councillors M.Patel and Southwood. |
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Declarations of interests Members are invited to declare at this stage of the meeting, the nature and existence of any relevant disclosable pecuniary, personal or prejudicial interests in the items on this agenda and to specify the item(s) to which they relate. Minutes: There were no declarations received from Members. |
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Deputations (if any) To hear any deputations received from members of the public in accordance with Standing Order 67. Minutes: There were no deputations received at the meeting. |
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Minutes of the previous meeting PDF 67 KB To approve the minutes of the previous meeting as a correct record. Minutes: RESOLVED that the minutes of the previous meeting held on 8 November 2017 be approved as an accurate record of the meeting. |
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Matters arising (if any) To consider any matters arising from the minutes of the previous meeting. Minutes: Min 6: Future Provision of the Pension Administration Service (General Purposes Committee – 8 November 2017)
The Committee noted that the information relating to financial clawback under the contract with Capita for the Pension Administration Service had been provided for members, as requested at their last meeting. |
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Revised Attendance Policy and Procedure PDF 95 KB The report recommends changes to the Attendance Management Policy and Procedure to address concerns raised by both line managers and HR Advisers related to its application and for being unnecessarily complex, leading to inconsistency and delays in progressing case management. Additional documents: Minutes: Sandra Simmonds (Interim HR Manager) introduced a report detailing a number of recommended amendments to the Council’s Attendance Management Policy and Procedure.
The Committee noted that the Policy had been subject to an extensive review and consultation process involving a wide range of stakeholders (including Trade Unions and operational managers). As a result, a number of changes to the policy had been identified, which were designed to provide a more streamlined and transparent process whilst providing more discretion for managers to be able to take account of individual circumstances when managing absence. The key revisions to the policy were identified as follows:
· removal of the distinction between the management of long term and short term absence, although trigger levels remained in order to prompt management action;
· the policy no longer set targets for automatic escalation following each stage. Attendance was expected to be monitored based upon the sickness triggers and if there was a cause for concern in line with service need;
· the revised policy also clarified the treatment of annual leave carry-over in terms of sickness absence and provided further guidance on the treatment of employees under the Equality Act 2010;
In terms of issues raised on the revised Policy, Members sought further details on the extended advice relating to medical redeployment; the appeals process and policy in respect of flexible working arrangements. In response, Sandra Simmonds felt it was important to recognise that the Policy was designed to support employee attendance in the workplace with the help of reasonable adjustments or, where necessary, the consideration of alternative employment opportunities, hence more detailed advice and guidance being provided around issues such as medical redeployment etc. In relation to the dismissal appeals process, confirmation was provided that the appointment of an Appeal Hearing Officer would vary depending on each case but the individual would be a senior manager graded at Head of Service or above. In relation to the flexible working policy, clarification was also provided that if a member of staff was deemed as not fit to work they would be expected to report that as an absence.
RESOLVED that the revisions to the Attendance Management Policy and Procedure be approved for immediate implementation. |
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Exclusion of Press and Public The following items are not for publication as they relate to the following category of exempt information as specified under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, namely:
1. Information relating to any individual. 2. Information which is likely to reveal the identity of an 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. 5. Information in respect of which a claim to legal professional privilege could be maintained in legal proceedings. 6. Information which reveals that the authority proposes – (a) to give under any enactment a notice under or by virtue of which requirements are imposed on a person; or (b) to make an order or direction under any enactment 7. Information relating to any action taken or to be taken in connection with the prevention, investigation or prosecution of crime. Minutes: RESOLVED that under Section 100A (4) of the Government Act 1972 the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of Agenda Item 8 on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1 (information relating to any individual) and 3 (information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person, including the authority holding that information) of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act (as amended). |
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Severance Arrangements The paper informs the Committee of the contractual costs of redundancy and early retirement of the Director of HR and OD.
Minutes: Althea Loderick (Strategic Director Resources) introduced a report seeking approval to the contractual redundancy and early retirement costs for the Director of Human Resources and Occupational Development.
The Committee noted that the proposed severance arrangements had arisen as a result of a restructuring of the Senior Management Team within Resources, approved by Cabinet on 23 October 2017. Under the Localism Act 2011 there was a requirement for severance packages above a set financial threshold (taking account of any capital costs payable to the pension scheme) to be formally approved by Council or a Committee appointed for that purpose. The severance arrangements detailed within the report were therefore being presented to General Purposes Committee for approval.
In response to queries raised by Members, further details were provided on the calculation of the capital costs payable to the pension scheme as part of the overall arrangements detailed within the report. In addition, clarification was provided on the timing of the senior management team restructure within Resources, which members were advised had been designed to deliver further capacity on key corporate priorities whilst generating additional efficiencies. Clarification was also provided in relation to future consultancy activity.
RESOLVED that the Committee approve the contractual redundancy, severance and capital costs of early release of pension as detailed within the report, relating to the termination of employment of the Director of Human Resources and Occupational Development on the grounds of redundancy. |
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Any other urgent business Notice of items to be raised under this heading must be given in writing to the Head of Executive and Member Services or his representative before the meeting in accordance with Standing Order 60. Minutes: None. |