Agenda and minutes

Due to the absence of the Chair from the meeting it was;

Resolved:  That Councillor Fraser be elected as Chair of the meeting.

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 any personal, prejudicial or disclosable pecuniary interests that they might have had in the business on the agenda. No 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 (Three Month Summary of Redundancies) and Agenda Item 6 (Redundancy) on the grounds that they contain information relating to individuals and the financial affairs of particular persons. This information is classified 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 5 (Three Month Summary of Redundancies) and Agenda 6 (Redundancy) (minute items 75 and 76 refer) on the grounds that they contain information relating to individuals. 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 3 February 2014.

Resolved: That the minutes of the last meeting held on 3 February 2014 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 28 February 2014 at 5.00 pm.

Filming or Recording Meetings

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/downloads/download/3130/protocol_for_webcasting_filming_and_recording_of_council_meetings

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.  This summary information covers the period November 2013 to January 2014.

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. This summary information covered the period from November 2013 to January 2014. An annex to the report was circulated at the meeting.

Resolved: That the summary information as detailed in the Annex

to the report be noted.

Reason:   In order to provide an overview of the expenditure and to maintain transparency and scrutiny of the process.

This report advises the Staffing Matters and Urgency Committee of the expenditure associated with the proposed dismissal of an employee on the grounds of redundancy.

Members received a report which advised them of a discretionary flexible retirement request.

Officers explained to Members that the employee had requested flexible retirement and wished to reduce their full time hours to part time. The other half of the post would then be backfilled, there were no costs to granting the request.

Questions from Members related to;

·        If there was an overlap in hours between the employee going from a full time to a part time post, and another employee starting in the other part time part of the post.

·        Possible difficulties in recruitment for a part time post.

·        If it might be supposed that once the employee who wished to go part time had retired that their post would automatically become a full time post.

Officers explained that for this particular post it would be a job share.

It was felt that would be little difficulty in filling the vacant half of the post. In response to the concern about if the retiree decided to leave the post and it became full time, it was reported that the first step would be to ask the other part time employee in post would be to ask them whether they wished to take on the post full time.

Resolved: That the request for flexible retirement be granted.

Reason:    It allows the service to retain the knowledge and skills of an experienced service manager.