Agenda and minutes

At this point in the meeting, Members are asked to declare:

·        any personal interests not included on the Register of Interests

·        any prejudicial interests or

·        any disclosable pecuniary interests

which they may have in respect of business on this agenda.

At this point in the meeting, Members were asked to declare if

they had any personal interests not included on the Register of

Interests or any prejudicial or disclosable pecuniary interests

that they might have had in the business on the agenda. None were declared.

To consider the exclusion of the press and public from the meeting during consideration of the following:

Annexes to Agenda Items 7 to 9 on the grounds that they contain information relating to individuals and the financial affairs of particular persons. This information is classed as exempt under paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of Schedule 12A to Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as revised by The Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006).

Resolved: That the press and public be excluded from the

meeting during the consideration of annexes to Agenda Items 7 to 9 on the grounds that they contained information relating to individuals and the financial affairs of particular persons. This information is classed as exempt under Paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of Schedule 12A to Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as revised by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006).

To approve and sign the minutes of the Staffing Matters & Urgency Committee meetings held on 13 December and 20 December 2018.

Resolved: That the minutes of the Staffing Matters and Urgency Committee held on 13 and 20 December 2018 be approved and then signed by the Chair as a correct record.

At this point in the meeting members of the public who have registered to speak can do so.  The deadline for registering is on Friday 1 February at 5.00pm. Members of the public can speak on agenda items or matters within the remit of the committee.

To register to speak please contact the Democracy Officers for the meeting, on the details at the foot of the agenda.

Filming, Recording or Webcasting Meetings

Please note that, subject to available resources, this meeting will be filmed and webcast, or recorded, including any registered public speakers who have given their permission.  This broadcast can be viewed at http://www.york.gov.uk/webcasts. or, if recorded, this will be uploaded onto the Council website following the meeting.

Residents are welcome to photograph, film or record Councillors and Officers at all meetings open to the press and public. This includes the use of social media reporting, i.e. tweeting.  Anyone wishing to film, record or take photos at any public meeting should contact the Democracy Officers (whose contact details are at the foot of this agenda) in advance of the meeting.

The Council’s protocol on Webcasting, Filming & Recording of Meetings ensures that these practices are carried out in a manner both respectful to the conduct of the meeting and all those present.  It can be viewed at http://www.york.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/11406/protocol_for_webcasting_filming_and_recording_of_council_meetings_20160809.pdf

It was reported that there had been one registration to speak at

the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

Gwen Swinburn spoke on Agenda Item 6, Proposals to Negotiate and Consult on Chief Officer Pay Policy. She commented on the report and raised concerns relating to:

·        the additional management tier;

·        the financial implications;

·        a Chief Officer Investigation, Disciplinary and Appointments Committee;

·        the elections fees paid to Chief Officers;

·        the report not containing an Equalities Impact statement.

She also stated that she welcomed the Corporate Services review, particularly within Legal and Democratic Services and hoped the same would occur within Customer Services and Information Governance. She questioned why HR services were being outsourced to North Yorkshire County Council and  raised concerns regarding the pay grade proposed for the temporary appointment of the Assistant Director of Legal & Governance.

This report seeks approval for amendments to committee memberships as detailed in the report.

Members noted that at the Annual Council meeting on 24 May 2018, appointments were made to committees, sub-committees and other bodies for the 2018/19 municipal year and that it was now necessary to make changes to the membership of committees and other bodies.

Members agreed that Staffing Matters & Urgency Committee has authority to deal with any in-year changes or appointments to any Committees and Outside Bodies and they noted the following proposed changes as detailed in the agenda papers:

Joint Standards Committee

·        To appoint Cllr Warters to replace Cllr Hayes on this committee.

·        To appoint Cllr Williams to the Labour Group vacancy.

·        To appoint Cllr Looker as the Labour Group substitute. 

Health, Housing and Adult Social Care Policy and Scrutiny Committee

·                    To appoint Cllr Hayes to replace Cllr Warters on this committee.

Resolved: That the above changes to committees be agreed.

Reason: In order to make appropriate appointments to the Council’s Committees and Outside Bodies for the remainder of the current municipal year.

This report provides an overview of the proposed Chief Officer Pay Policy.

Members considered a report that provided them with an overview on the proposed Chief Officer Pay Policy from April 2019.

Members received an update from the Chief Executive and the Head of HR and they were informed that the Chief Officer Pay Policy had been considered in more detail for ease of reference, transparency and to build a complete Chief Officer pay structure adding in a new Director level role.

Members noted that the three levels of Chief Officer Grades would be evaluated using Hay job evaluation methodology and that the proposals were being negotiated with the recognised trade unions and Chief Officers to ensure a collective agreement was made.

In answer to Members questions Officers confirmed:

·        The annual Gender Pay Gap report was being considered and could be emailed to Members once finalised.

·        The new Director level posts would be part of the Corporate Management Team and not an opportunity for Assistant Director posts to grow into a Director role through the Hay evaluation.

·        Subject to the Corporate Services restructure being finalised, there was no proposal to increase the full time equivalent of Chief Officers.

·        Management charts would be produced once the Corporate Services restructure was finalised.

The proposed implementation timeline was discussed and Members noted that the Chief Officer Pay Policy would be approved at Full Council on 21 March 2019.

Resolved:

     i.                That the ongoing work to the Chief Officer Pay Policy be noted and agreed with the Trade Unions and that the full Pay Policy be approved by Council at its meeting in March 2019.

    ii.                That Members receive the 2019 Gender Pay Gap report.

Reason: To keep the Committee informed of progress relating to the Chief Officer Pay Policy and comply with statutory requirements in relation the formal approval of the full Pay Policy.

This report sets out and seeks approval to the Director of Customer and Corporate Services’ proposals to recruit an interim Assistant Director, Legal & Governance, which are based on operational need and are made in line with the council’s constitution arrangements.

Members considered a report that set out and sought approval to the Director of Customer and Corporate Services’ proposals to recruit an interim Assistant Director, Legal & Governance, which was based on operational need and was made in line with the council’s constitution arrangements.

Members received an update from the Chief Executive and the Head of HR and they noted the urgency to recruit a temporary Assistant Director of Legal and Governance and the areas the interim cover would directly line manage. 

Members were informed that an Appointments Sub-Committee would be required and the reasons for outsourcing the recruitment process to North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC) were discussed.

After further discussions around the financial implications and consideration of the exempt Annex, it was:

Resolved:

     i.        That the proposals for the Director of Customer and Corporate Services to progress the recruitment of an Interim Assistant Director of Legal & Governance, in light of the circumstances outlined in the report, be endorsed.

    ii.        That an Appointments Sub-Committee consisting of three members, one from each main party (1 Conservative, 1 Liberal Democrat and 1 Labour) to include a member of the Executive, be established

   iii.        That the proposals for  NYCC to support the recruitment process, including advertising and candidate search, as costed in Annex D of the report, be endorsed

  iv.        That the salary to attract the right candidate for this interim role was either at AD level directly employed through CYC,  engagement via Work with York or an alternative contractual arrangement  considered by the Appointments Sub Committee, be agreed.        

Reason: To progress an interim appointment in relation to this critical role required to deliver statutory responsibilities.

This report advises the Committee of the expenditure associated with pension or exit discretions in accordance with council policy.

Members considered a report which detailed expenditure associated with a pension or exit discretion in accordance with Council policy.

Members considered the background and detail surrounding the proposal, which was contained in the business case attached as a confidential annex to the report.

Resolved:  That the expenditure associated with the proposed pension or exit discretion, as detailed in Annex A of the report, be considered and approved.

Reason:     In order to provide an overview of expenditure and to consider whether the Council should exercise its discretionary powers to make enhancements.

This report advises the Committee of the expenditure associated with the proposed dismissal of an employee on the grounds of redundancy.

Members considered a report which detailed the expenditure associated with the proposed dismissal of an employee on the grounds of redundancy.

The background and detailed case surrounding the proposal was contained in the individual business case, attached as a confidential annex to the report.

Resolved: 

     i.                That the expenditure associated with the proposed dismissal of an employee on the grounds of redundancy, as detailed in Annex A of the report, be noted.

    ii.                That the proposed dismissal and use of reserve be considered by Executive.

Reason:     In order to provide Members with an overview of the expenditure.