Agenda and draft minutes
Venue: Room MP702, 7th Floor, Town Hall, Mulberry Place, 5 Clove Crescent, London, E14 2BG
Contact: Evelyn Akoto, Democratic Services Tel: 020 7364 4207, E-mail: evelyn.akoto@towerhamlets.gov.uk
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APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE To receive any apologies for absence. Minutes:
Due to a quoracy issue with another Committee, that needed the presence of Councillor Choudhury. The Chair of Human Resources Committee agreed to open the Committee meeting at 6.30pm and adjourn for 30 minutes.
Human Resources was re-convened at 7pm.
Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Oliur Rahman and Shiria Khatun.
The Chair asked all attendees to introduce themselves. In introducing himself the interim Monitoring Officer, Meic Sullivan-Gould, gave an account of his recent career history and his area of responsibility within the Council. |
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DECLARATIONS OF DISCLOSABLE PECUNIARY INTEREST PDF 56 KB To note any declarations of interest made by Members, including those restricting Members from voting on the questions detailed in Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act, 1992.
See attached note from the Monitoring Officer.
Minutes: There were no declaration of disclosable pecuniary interest |
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UNRESTRICTED MINUTES PDF 66 KB To confirm as a correct record of the proceedings the unrestricted minutes of the meeting of the Human Resources Committee held on 20 June 2013, 2013 and 13 November 2013. Additional documents: Minutes: RESOLVED
That the unrestricted minutes of the meeting of the Human Resources Committee held on 20 June and 13 November 2013 be agreed and signed by the Chair, as a correct record of the proceedings. |
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REPORTS OF CORPORATE DIRECTOR, RESOURCES |
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Quarterly Report - New Starters PDF 351 KB Minutes: Simon Kilbey, Service Head (Human Resources & Workforce Development) gave an update on new starters within the Council for 2013-14. He stated that the report also provided information relating to schemes such as internship, trainees and apprenticeships. He continued that the Council had a healthy level of recruitment, and opportunities still existed for promotion and new appointments.
Members queried why the new starter report was submitted to every meeting. Simon Kilbey replied that the Human Resources Committee at its 29th February 2012 meeting requested a regular report providing quarterly details of new starters and breakdown by equality strands.
Members discussed the importance of receiving such information and agreed that the Committee should continue to receive the quarterly report.
RESOLVED
That the Committee note the report.
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Additional documents: Minutes: At the request of the Chair, Simon Kilbey, Service Head (Human Resources and Workforce Development) presented the report. He elaborated on the background to the report and the current request for confirmation from the Trade and Teacher’s union on the Council’s redundancy terms, and whether the discretionary severance element was contractual. This had been prompted by TUPE issues and the current financial constraints faced by Local Government.
He also talked about discussions held between Agilisys and its staff regarding early exist, and on the potential financial packages they could receive. The Council was concerned at this process and had stated that unless redundancies were voluntary it would not agree any financial package.
The Committee had an extensive discussion regarding the discretionary element of redundancy payments and whether the current usage of the redundancy package was consistent with the Committee’s original decision in 2006.
Members also queried the level of payments made to staff, in particular, reference was made to Appendix 1. Members enquired whether staff were always given the maximum payment. Officers confirmed that staff received a variety of payments.
In response to questions, officers gave the following responses:
• Based upon advice by Counsel, the Council had now accepted that the discretionary severance element of the redundancy scheme was now a contractual entitlement by virtue of custom and practice. The Council therefore now wanted to enforce the discretionary element of the scheme, allowing it to be able to exercise that flexibility. • There had been no changes to the redundancy policy since 2006, most likely because there were no pressing reasons to do so. However it was likely that further financial constraints from Central Government expected in the coming years, would prompt a review of all previous arrangements. • It was possible for Members to make changes to the Council’s redundancy terms, but a strong business reason would have to be outlined and a formal consultation process required.
Members felt that the scheme was still ambiguous in parts. Simon Kilbey stated that the Corporate Management Team was currently reviewing the terms of the scheme and that there was on-going internal discussion on this matter.
RESOLVED
That the Committee note the report.
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EXCLUSION OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC In view of the contents of the remaining items on the agenda the Committee is recommended to adopt the following motion:
“That, under the provisions of Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985, the press and public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting for the consideration of the Section Two business on the grounds that it contains information defined as Exempt in Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act, 1972.”
EXEMPT SECTION (Pink Papers)
The exempt committee papers in the agenda will contain information, which is commercially, legally or personally sensitive and should not be divulged to third parties. If you do not wish to retain these papers after the meeting, please hand them to the Committee Officer present. Minutes: A motion to exclude the public and press was passed in the unrestricted party of the proceedings. |
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RESTRICTED MINUTES To confirm as a correct record of the proceedings the restricted minutes of the meeting of the Human Resources Committee held on 2 July and 13 November 2013.
Minutes: Please refer to Part 2 minutes |
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ANY OTHER BUSINESS WHICH THE CHAIR CONSIDERS URGENT |
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Implementation of Chief Executive re-organisation :Directorate of Law, Probity and Governance Minutes: Please refer to Part 2 minutes. |