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 A and B to Agenda Item 7 (Redundancy) 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 Item 7(Redundancy) 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 Monday 2 September 2019.

Resolved: That the minutes of the Staffing Matters and Urgency Committee held on Monday 2 September 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 4 October 2019 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 Officer 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 Officer (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, addressed the committee on two matters, defamation and the conduct of the planning department. He made reference to a complaint he had submitted regarding the conduct of the Chief Executive and informed the Committee that he still awaited an apology and/or explanation. He also raised his concerns  relating to the attitude of the planning department and its management.

Gwen Swinburn, a local resident, raised concerns relating to:

·        delays in establishing a process for Members to be suitably involved in disciplinaries;

·        delays in handling multiple complaints against the Chief Executive;

·        Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs), requesting an update item at future meetings;

·        Introducing a work plan for this Committee, giving some suggested items of business.

The Chair thanked the speakers for their contributions and in this instance confirmed that the Committee was supportive of introducing a work plan going forward.  

This report seeks approval for amendments to the Council’s appointments to committees and outside bodies.

Members considered a report setting out proposed changes to the membership of the following outside bodies for their approval, further to the appointments made at the Annual Council meeting on 22 May 2019:

Foss 2008 Internal Drainage Board

To appoint Councillor Fisher and Councillor Warters onto the Board.

St Wilfrid's Eleemosynary Charity

Councillor Cuthbertson to replace Councillor Mason

Resolved: That the above Outside Bodies membership changes be agreed.

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

This report provides an update and recommendations on the continued provision to cover the Head of Paid service duties in the ongoing absence of the Chief Executive.

Members considered a report reviewing arrangements for the continued provision of cover for the duties of the role of Head of Paid, whilst the Chief Executive continued to be absent from work. 

The following options were outlined and Members’ approval was sought to that which they considered most appropriate:

Option 1: to continue with the current arrangements, under which the Deputy Chief Executive had assumed acting responsibility for the duties as Interim Chief Executive and the Deputy Section 151 Officer had become Interim Section 151 Officer;

Option 2: to recruit an additional temporary Chief Officer to assume acting responsibility for Finance and the Section 151 duties, whilst the Deputy Chief Executive acted as Interim Chief Executive;

Option 3: to recruit an Interim Chief Executive on an initial 3 month contract, with the flexibility to extend.

Members were advised that the current arrangements were currently working satisfactorily.

Resolved:

a)      That Option 1 be approved, continuing with the current interim arrangements;

b)      That the additional supplements for Interim Head of Paid Service and Interim Section 151 Officer as detailed in option 1 in the report, continue to be paid;

c)      To note that all interim arrangements would cease with immediate effect upon the return of the Chief Executive;

d)      That the above interim arrangements be reviewed further in January 2020, if the Chief Executive remained absent.

Reason: To provide suitable cover in the absence of the Chief Executive.

This report advises the Staffing Matters and Urgency 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 two employees on the grounds of redundancy.

The Head of HR explained the background and detailed case surrounding the proposals, which were contained in individual business cases, attached as ‘exempt’ annexes to the report.

Resolved: That the expenditure associated with the proposed dismissal of two employees on the grounds of redundancy, as detailed in Annexes A and B of the report, be noted.

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