| Time: | 3.00pm | Place: | Committee Room 1, Council Offices, Gernon Road, Letchworth Garden City |
| PRESENT: | Councillor Tricia Cowley(Chairman), Councillor Tom Brindley, Councillor Marilyn Kirkland, Councillor Mrs L.A. Needham, C. Corr, S Forde(Unison), Jacqui Hamilton(Unison). |
| IN ATTENDANCE: | Strategic Director of Customer Services Human Resources Development Manager Assistant Human Resources Advisor Committee and Member Services Officer |
| ALSO PRESENT: |
| Item | Description/Resolution | Status | Action | |
| PART I | ||||
| 13 |
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Judi Billing, the Corporate Human Resources Manager, Chris Carter representing the Staff Consultation Forum and Dee Levett from UNISON. |
Noted | ||
| 14 |
MINUTES Minutes It was agreed that the Minutes of the JSCC meeting held on 22 June 2011 be confirmed as a true record of the proceedings and be signed by the Chairman. |
Agreed | ||
| 15 |
NOTIFICATION OF OTHER BUSINESS No other items were presented for consideration by the Committee. |
Noted | ||
| 16 |
CHAIRMAN'S ANNOUNCEMENTS The Chairman welcomed Members and officers to the meeting of the Joint Staff Consultative Committee. In the absence of the Corporate Human Resources Manager, the Committee was notified that the Human Resources Development Manager (HRDM) and the Strategic Director of Customer would present her reports. Members were reminded that declarations of interest in respect of any business set out in the agenda and the nature of the interest, should be declared as either a prejudicial or personal interest at the commencement of the relevant item on the agenda. Members declaring a prejudicial interest should leave the room and not seek to influence the decision during that particular item. |
Noted | ||
| 17 |
STAFF CONSULTATION FORUM SCF Minutes 6.7.11 SCF Minutes 3.8.11 The Strategic Director of Customer Services (SDCS) referred the JSCC to the Minutes of the meetings of the Staff Consultation Forum (SCF) held on 6 July, 3 August and the Draft Minutes of 7 September 2011, for details of the meetings, actions taken and the items carried forward. He provided a summary of the main points from each meeting as follows: 6 July The SDCS touched on the subject of the sale of shredded waste under Green Issues and under NHDC Update that IT were to move to the ground floor and 3rd floor of DCO - a move which had now taken place. The Lease Cars agreement scheme had been terminated and transition arrangements had been put in place with three months' notice (there was a cash alternative in place). The current target for savings in the next budget round was £500,000 although the Forum was informed that this may change. Staff had been requested to think ahead regarding their leave requirements in 2012, as both the London Olympics and the Queen's Diamond Jubilee were to be occur during the summer months. 3 August The SDCS explained that Howard Crompton had informed the SCF that the result of restructuring within the Cashiers team would result in losing a cashier post. He explained that the restructure was due to the increase in electronic payments and a 65% reduction in the number of payments that needed to be processed. Licensing and Enforcement was also in line for restructuring and with the deletion of the NHDC Animal Warden post, Shared Services would be arranged with Stevenage Borough Council. Animals would be reported in the first place by the Herts Constabulary only. The level of interest regarding cycling to work was low and it was vital that an interest in this was generated by SCF staff and their colleagues if it were to be established. An update was given on all aspects of Homeworking/Office Accommodation and under NHDC Update the Forum was advised of the three new NHDC priorities: Living within our means to deliver cost effective services Working with local communities Environmental Protection of our Communities for the future. The SDCS advised that the outline business case for Shared Services for East Herts, Stevenage and North Herts would go before Cabinet in December 2011 and under Employee Queries that a review would be carried out on how the recent restructure had been implemented. 7 September (Draft) The Committee were informed that the number of staff who had been issued with corporate purchasing cards had been increased to enable purchases costing up to and over £20. Advance notice had been given to staff of remedial works to the Letchworth multi-storey car park, and the Hillshott and Birds Hill car parks. It was suggested that some staff use the car park for Letchworth Outdoor Pool. SERCO had produced an outline business case for NHDC's participation in the Herts County Council Shared Managed Services contract and after a meeting of Heads of Service and Strategic Directors, a clearer picture should be available by the end of September. NHDC have also signed a contract with SERCO for provision of occupational health services. Finally, the Committee were informed that NHDC have expressed their interest in the Herts County Council Tender process for a new Recruitment Contract. It was agreed: That the information provided in the three sets of Minutes of the Staff Consultation Forum be noted. |
Noted | ||
| 18 |
PEOPLE STRATEGY UPDATE REPORT The Human Resources Development Manager (HRDM) presented the Committee with an update on the People Strategy 2011-2015 Report. The key achievements had been listed in the report and the HRDM advised that NHDC were very involved with the potential Shared Services being planned with Stevenage Borough Council and East Herts District Council. NHDC had been reaccredited with the Investors in People award and had received very good feedback. She explained that given the current climate, the Assessor had said that our performance against the standard had exceeded his expectations. An assessment had also been done of the quality of appraisal selection and a further one was planned. The Committee was informed that in addition to the programme of management development in the autumn, a workshop on Advanced Managing People Skills would be commencing in October 2011. This is to support managers who have to deal with particularly difficult issues. Lastly, the HRDM reminded the Committee of the new retirement policy currently at the draft stages which could have implications for other updated policies. She went through the appendices and pointed out in Appendix B the final position of 98.32% for appraisals as at 31 July 2011, an excellent result. The HRDM stressed also that regarding sickness at NHDC covered in Appendix C, short-term absence for sickness had fallen in 2011 and calculation of the long-term absence level was nearing resolution. It was agreed: That the Committee note the progress against the People Strategy and HR People Strategy Work Plan for 2011/2012. REASON FOR RECOMMENDATION: The People Strategy supports the achievement of the Authority's key priorities. |
Agreed | ||
| 19 |
UPDATE LOCAL GOVERNMENT PENSION SCHEME (LGPS) JSCC SEPTEMBER 2011 PAPER The Human Resources Development Manager (HRDM) took the Committee through the report of the Corporate Human Resources Manager. The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government has written to the Local Government Group (LGG) inviting it to conduct discussions with the trade unions to establish, by no later than the 9th September 2011, a package of measures to secure short term savings of £900 million by 2014/15, in an effort to reduce or avoid an average contribution increase from LGPS members of 3.2%. However, UNISON felt that progress was too slow and it was very likely that there would be a ballot of members, resulting in support for industrial action over changes to the Local Government Pension Scheme. The Strategic Director of Customer Services observed that if the industrial action went ahead it would be the first time since 2006 and that discussions with the Trade Unions were taking place to mitigate the effect of any potential action on vulnerable people. |
Noted | ||
| 20 |
STRATEGIC HR FORUM DISCUSSION TOPIC - THE 2012 OLYMPIC GAMES IMPACT ON STAFF AND RESOURCES DISCUSSION PAPER The Assistant Human Resources Manager (AHRM) introduced the paper on the Impact of London 2012 Olympics on Staff and Resources. She emphasised that as the Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games would run during peak summer holiday times, staff who wished to volunteer as guides etc and those who had managed to obtain tickets or who simply wished to watch the events on television, would need to book their 2012 paid/unpaid, special or annual leave early (they had been able to do so since July 2011). Analysis had shown that 50% of staff booked annual leave during this period. The Committee enquired whether many of the Council staff had been successful in obtaining tickets for the Olympics and were told that not many had been lucky. There is one member of staff who had applied for a guide/volunteer role and any others would also have to anticipate their leave requirements and make the booking early. The Chairman enquired what would happen if a larger than normal number of staff applied for leave during the three weeks covering the Olympics. The Strategic Director of Customer Services replied that discussions would be held with teams to seek mutually acceptable arrangements. As on past occasions, such as when England was involved in the Football World Cup, it might be possible for employees to watch or listen to events at work in their own time. The Committee agreed that the picture should be clearer by the end of 2011 and with care and forethought the whole matter could be well-managed. It was agreed: That the discussion paper on The Impact of London 2012 Olympics on Staff and Resources be noted. |
Noted | ||
| 21 |
SUGGESTED DISCUSSION TOPICS List of discussion topics The Committee discussed the list of Suggested Discussion Topics presented by the Human Resources Development Manager and as a result the subject chosen for the next meeting was Job Evaluation - What scheme is used by the Council and how does the Process Work? |
Noted | ||