Agenda and minutes

At this point, members are asked to declare any personal or prejudicial interests they may have in the business on this agenda.

Members were invited to declare at this point in the meeting any personal or prejudicial interests they might have in the business on the agenda. 

Cllr Scott declared a personal, non prejudicial interest in agenda item 5 (Removal of Bonus Payments), as a ‘no win, no fee’ solicitor specialising in employment law.  He indicated that neither he nor his firm was dealing with any cases directly related to the matter under consideration.

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

Annex 1 to Agenda Item 5 (Removal of Bonus Payments) on the grounds that it contains information relating to any consultations or negotiations, or contemplated consultations or negotiations, in connection with any labour relations matter arising between the authority or a Minister of the Crown and employees of, or officer holders under, the authority, and information in respect of which a claim to legal professional privilege could be maintained in legal proceedings.  This information is classed as exempt under paragraphs 4 & 5 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 consideration of Annex 1 to Agenda Item 5 (Removal of Bonus Payments), on the grounds that it contains information relating to negotiations in connection with a labour relations matter and information in respect of which a claim to legal professional privilege could be maintained in legal proceedings.  Such information is classed as exempt under paragraphs 4 and 5 respectively 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 Urgency Committee held on 28 September 2007.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the Urgency Committee meeting held on 28 September 2007 be approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

At this point in the meeting members of the public who have registered their wish to speak regarding an item on the agenda or an issue within the Committee’s remit can do so.  The deadline for registering is Friday 7 December, at 5.00 pm.

It was reported that there had been no registrations to speak at the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

This report outlines the offer made to staff relating to removal of bonus payments, including the options considered, the outcomes from staff meetings and the resultant ballot, and asks Members to endorse the agreement and its implementation.

Members considered a report which outlined the offer made to Council staff in relation to the removal of bonus payments and sought endorsement for the agreement and its implementation.

The matter had been brought to Urgency Committee in view of the agreement by Corporate Management Team (CMT) that proposals for a buy out of bonus be negotiated with trades unions then brought to Members to enable implementation by mid-December.  Details of the five options considered by CMT, and the proposals recommended by them and subsequently negotiated with the unions, were set out in the exempt Annex 1 to the report.

Officers confirmed at the meeting that negotiations were now complete and union members had been balloted on the offer recommended by CMT.  Results of the ballot, received last week, showed 95% in favour of the offer. 

RESOLVED: That the offer made to affected staff, and its subsequent implementation, be approved.

REASON:      To enable the agreement to be processed before 31 December 2007.