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 asked to declare at this point in the meeting any personal or prejudicial interests that they might have had in the business on the agenda.

Councillor Alexander declared a personal non prejudicial interest in Agenda Item 5 (Redundancy) as a member of GMB.

Councillor Gunnell also declared a personal non prejudicial interest in Agenda Item 5 as a member of UNISON.

Councillor Simpson-Laing also declared the same interest in Agenda Item 5.

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 5 on the grounds that they contain information relating to individuals and 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 5 (Redundancy) on the grounds that they contain information relating to individuals and the financial affairs of particular persons.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting of the Staffing Matters & Urgency Committee held on 19 March 2012.

RESOLVED:       That the minutes of the Staffing Matters and Urgency Committee held on 19 March 2012 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 30 March 2012 at 5.00 pm.

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

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 received a report which advised them of the expenditure associated with the proposed dismissal of a number of employees on the grounds of redundancy.

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

Following a request from Members at the previous meeting for further information on staffing numbers in a specific service area of the Council, Officers tabled a briefing note at the meeting. This informed Members of the numbers of staff expected to be needed following reorganisation of the service area.

RESOLVED:      (i)       That the expenditure associated with the proposed dismissal of eight employees on the grounds of redundancy as detailed in Annexes A, B and C be noted.

                         (ii)         That the additional information provided by Officers on staff numbers at the meeting be noted.        

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

This report seeks urgent member approval to proceed with additional archaeological excavation works at Hungate Haymarket car-park site at a cost of £112k.

Members received a report which asked them to approve additional archaeological excavation works at the Hungate Haymarket Car Park at a cost of £112k.

The report was brought to the Committee as an urgent item as the current phase of work on site was due to be completed on 30 March 2012 and Officers recommended that funding be continued.

Questions from Members to Officers related to the reasons for the continuance of funding excavations and the likelihood of a future sale of the site, once archaeological investigations had been completed.

Officers informed Members of a successful open day for members of the public at the excavation site and it was noted that another open day would be arranged soon. They also informed the Committee that a visit of the site for Members could be arranged on request.

RESOLVED:       (i)      That the report be noted.

(ii)      That the additional archaeological excavation works at £112k be approved.

(iii)     That the capital receipt be used to fund the capital expenditure.

(iv)    That the capital expenditure be included in the capital programme in the year 2013/14.

(v)     That the company that completes the work would fund the expenditure until 2013/14.

(vi)    That if the capital receipt is not realised at an amount to cover the expenditure, then it be noted that potential additional borrowing may be required, subject to a review of the overall capital programme.

(vii)    That the finance costs as a result of the timing differences between the archaeological investigation costs incurred and the sale of the capital receipt be funded from property services revenue budget.

REASON:                     To enable the archaeological investigative work on the site to proceed in the most cost effective manner.