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.

No Member present had any interests to declare.

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

To consider the exclusion of the press and public from the meeting during consideration of the annexes to agenda item 7(Redundancy) and agenda item 8 (Pension or Exit Discretion) 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 and 8 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 5 February 2018.

Resolved: That the minutes of the Staffing Matters and Urgency Committee held on 5 February 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 16 March 2018 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 no registrations to speak at

the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

This report makes proposals to permanently recruit to the Assistant Director Children’s Specialist Services in the Directorate of Children, Education and Communities.  This report seeks formal approval to establish an Appointments Sub-Committee for Chief Officer Appointments and to delegate sufficient powers to that Sub-Committee to enable them to conduct the recruitment process, select and appoint a candidate, subject to the requirements of the standing orders on appointment. 

Members considered a report that proposed to permanently recruit an Assistant Director of Children’s Specialist Services in the Directorate of Children, Education and Communities.

The Corporate Director of Children’s Education and Communities presented the report and confirmed that the current appointment to this post was made on an interim basis which had provided an opportunity to review the role and consider portfolio options for the Assistant Director of Education and Skills and the Assistant Director of Children’s Specialist Services. Following significant service changes within the directorate over the last 12 months, Members were informed of the areas of responsibility and accountability that had been reviewed to strengthen the management arrangements for the directorate.

Members were asked to formally approve the establishment of an Appointments Sub Committee for the Chief Officer Appointment and to delegate sufficient powers to that Sub-Committee to enable them to conduct the recruitment process, select and appoint a candidate.

Resolved: 

(i)           That the recruitment to the role of Assistant Director Children’s Specialist Services Chief Officer grade 10 £68,744.00 to £76,374.00 be approved.

(ii)          That the advertising of this opportunity externally be approved.

(iii)        That the establishment of the Appointments Committee and the committee be authorised to conduct the interview, and select a successful candidate and make an offer of interim employment, subject to the necessary employment procedures and standing orders, be approved.

Reason: To progress the appointment and reduce risks highlighted in the report in relation to this critical role required to deliver the Council’s statutory responsibilities.

The committee is asked to extend the pilot arrangements to Safeguarding Social Work Teams 1 & 2 (Court/Child Protection teams) and this paper provides background details of the number of vacant posts in Safeguarding Social Work teams 1 & 2; the cost of agency workers providing cover; the recruitment campaign activity since July 2018 associated with attracting candidates to the vacancies; and information about the regional and national context. 

Members considered a report that asked them to extend the pilot scheme  that was approved in July 2017 at a Staffing Matters & Urgency Committee for the payment of ‘golden hellos’ and ‘golden handcuffs’ to social workers in the Referral & Assessment team in Children’s Services.

Officers confirmed the pilot scheme had proved to be successful and that the Referral & Assessment teams

vacant posts were now filled by permanent staff.

The Corporate Director of Children’s Education and Communities presented the report and he explained why the pilot scheme approach could also benefit the staffing issues arising in the Safeguarding Social Work Teams 1 & 2 (Court/Child Protection teams). He highlighted the number of vacant posts in this area, the recruitment campaign associated with attracting the candidates to the vacancies and the cost of providing short term cover through agency workers, which should reduce the significant financial pressure for the service if the pilot scheme was extended.

Members noted that a report would be provided to the Staffing Matters & Urgency Committee in July 2018 highlighting the impact of the enhanced payment to the Referral & Assessment team and should the pilot scheme be extended, an interim analysis of the impact of the enhanced payment for the Safeguarding Social Work teams could be reported at the same time.

Members agreed it was important to create some level of stability amongst staff for the client group and in answer to their questions it was noted that should the pilot scheme prove to be successful again, this model may be used more widely through the directorate.

Resolved: That the payment of ‘golden hellos and golden handcuffs’ to social workers in the Safeguarding Social Work Court/Child Projection teams in Children Services for a 12 month pilot period, be agreed.

Reason: To support the recruitment and retention of social work staff to stabilise these two Safeguarding Teams.

This report advises the Staffing Matters and Urgency Committee of the expenditure associated with the proposed dismissal of a number of employees on the grounds of redundancy.

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

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

Resolved:  That the expenditure associated with the proposed dismissal of a number of employee’s on the grounds of redundancy, as detailed in Annex A, B, C, D, E and F of the report, be noted.

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

This report advises the Staffing Matters and Urgency 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 each proposal, which were contained in the business cases attached as confidential annexes to the report.

Resolved: That the expenditure associated with the proposed pension or exit discretions, as detailed in Annex A and Annex B 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.