Agenda and minutes

Members were asked to elect a Member to act as Chair of the meeting in the absence of the Chair and Vice Chair.

Resolved: That Councillor Steward be appointed to Chair the meeting. 

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 5 (Pension or Exit Discretion) and 6 (Redundancy) on the grounds that they contain information relating to individuals, information which is likely to reveal the identity of individuals and information relating to the financial or business affairs of particular persons (including the authority holding that information).

·        Annex A to agenda item 7 (Complaint Investigation) on the grounds that it contains information relating to individuals and information which is likely to reveal the identity of individuals.

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 5, 6 and 7 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 meeting of the Staffing Matters & Urgency Committee held on 18 March 2019.

Resolved: That the minutes of the Staffing Matters and Urgency Committee held on 18 March 2019 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 29 March 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 two registrations to speak at the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

Michael Hammill, a resident, spoke under the general remit of the Committee on a complaint he had made against a Senior Council Officer. He referred to the circumstances which had led to his complaint and to the personal stress and cost caused to him as a result. Finally, he stated that all complaints should be fully investigated, with proper communication between CYC and the complainant.

Gwen Swinburn, a resident, spoke on issues around the way complaints were currently being handled by CYC. She expressed concern about the lack of process, and length of time taken, to deal with citizen complaints. She stated that she felt the Council should establish a Standing Chief Officer Investigations & Disciplinary Committee, as several other councils did.  Finally she commented on expensive pay outs to Chief Officers despite poor performance and poor conduct.

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 pension or exit discretions in accordance with Council policy.

Members considered the background and detail surrounding the proposals, which were contained in the business cases attached as a confidential to the report.

Resolved:  That the expenditure associated with the proposed pension or exit discretions, as detailed in Annex A to 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 employees on the grounds of redundancy.

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

The background and detailed cases surrounding the proposals were contained in the individual business cases, attached as a confidential annex to the report.

Resolved:  That the expenditure associated with the proposed dismissal of employees on the grounds of redundancy, as detailed in Annex A to the report, be noted.

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

This report sets out the process for considering a complaint received and seeks approval to the next steps in relation to that complaint.

Members considered a report which set out the process for  considering a complaint received and seeking approval to take next steps in relation to that complaint.

The Head of HR attended the meeting to present the report. She explained that, since the agenda for this meeting was published, further information had been received and she asked that Members consider deferring this item to a future meeting of this Committee to allow her to update the report.  

Resolved:  That the item be deferred to a future meeting of this Committee.

Reason:     In order that the Head of HR could update the report to the Committee with information which had been received since agenda publication.