Agenda and minutes

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.

Councillor Alexander declared a personal non prejudicial interest in agenda item 6 (Redundancy) as a member of GMB.

Councillor Fraser also declared a personal non prejudicial interest the same agenda item as a member of the retired sections of UNISON and Unite (TGWU/ACTS sections).

Councillor Gunnell declared a personal and prejudicial interest in relation to one of the annexes to agenda item 6 as it concerned a close family member. She left the room during the consideration of this item and took no further part in the meeting.

No other interests were declared.

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

Annexes to Agenda Item 6 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 agenda item 6 (Redundancy), on the grounds that it contains information relating to individuals and the financial affairs of particular persons, which is classified as exempt under Paragraphs 1.2 and 3 of Schedule 12A to Section 100 of the Local Government Act 1972 (as revised by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation Order).

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting of the Staffing Matters & Urgency Committee held on 24 October 2011.

RESOLVED:       That the minutes of the Staffing Matters and Urgency Committee held on 24 October 2011 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 4 November 2011 at 5.00 pm.

It was reported that there had been one registration to speak under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

Mr Ken Beavan spoke on behalf of York Royal British Legion, in relation to Agenda Item 5 (Community Covenant). He spoke about how the Royal British Legion had only been alerted to the formulation of a Community Covenant with the distribution of agenda papers for the Committee meeting. He also spoke about how he wished for further consultation on the Community Covenant to take place with both the Royal British Legion and York Council for Ex-Servicemen. He wished for a meeting to take place with the Legion, the Council for Ex-Servicemen and all party leaders before final approval of the Covenant at Full Council.

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 informed them of the expenditure associated with the proposed dismissal of a number of employees on the grounds of redundancy.

Details of the five individual employees concerned were contained in business cases circulated at the meeting. All the redundancies were voluntary and no discretionary enhancements were proposed.

RESOLVED:       That the expenditure associated with the proposed dismissal of the employees on the grounds of redundancy, as detailed in the annexes circulated at the meeting, be noted.

REASON:           So that Members have an overview of the expenditure.

This report asks Staffing Matters and Urgency Committee to agree to establishing a Community Covenant with our local armed forces, subject to the approval of Council.

Members received a report which asked them to agree to the establishment of a Community Covenant with local armed forces subject to the approval of Council.

Officers expanded on the process of the establishment of the Community Covenant and explained that;

·        Following approval by this Committee, the Covenant would then be considered by the Ministry of Defence (MOD), who would be expected to approve it.

·        That an official ‘signing’ of the Covenant will be arranged by the MOD, which will include the three main services involved; the three armed forces, the Council and the York Council for Voluntary Services (CVS).

·        That a Covenant Partnership would be set up consisting of representatives from the armed forces, the Council and York CVS in the first instance.

·        That the Council will then encourage a wide range of further organisations to sign up to the Covenant and become part of the Covenant Partnership.

·        That grant funding from the MOD will be available for those organisations who sign up to the Covenant Partnership to bid for.

In response to the comments raised by Ken Beavan, under Public Participation (Minute Item 66), Members stated that they wished for York Royal British Legion to be a primary signatory to the Community Covenant alongside the aforementioned partners.

Councillor Alexander stated that leaders across the Yorkshire and Humber area have agreed to enter into covenants. Further discussion will take place regarding how the Council will be represented on the partnership before the next Council meeting.

RESOLVED:       (i)      That the report be noted.

(ii)      That Council be asked to endorse the views of the Staffing Matters and Urgency Committee, in supporting a community covenant, and pledge its support to establish an Community Covenant Partnership for York.

(iii)     That Council authorise the Chief Executive to hold discussions with representatives of our local armed forces to progress establishing a covenant.

REASON:                     To support relationships between the people of York and local armed forces.