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 any personal, 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:

An Annex to Agenda Item 6 (Redundancy) on the grounds that it contains information relating to an individual and the financial affairs of a particular person.  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 an Annex to Agenda Item 6 (Minute Item 83 refers) on the grounds that it contains 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.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting of the Staffing Matters & Urgency Committee held on 3 March 2014.

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

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

At the Annual Council meeting on 23 May 2013 appointments were made to Committees, outside and partnership bodies together with appointments to Chairs and Vice-Chairs for the 2013/14 municipal year.  However, since those appointments were made we have been advised that a membership change is required to one of the Outside Bodies and appointments and nominations have been requested to a new Authority.

Members received a report which asked them to agree to a membership change to an Outside Body and to appointments and nominations for membership of the new West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA).

The Chair informed Members that since the report had been written he had received additional information from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority. It was reported that an additional Transport Committee had been established and that York could attend this.

The Chair proposed that Councillor Merrett attend the Transport Committee as an observer, Councillor Fraser seconded this proposal.

On being put to the vote the motion was carried.

He added that a note sent to Group Leaders needed to be updated on  the additional information he had received from the Combined Authority.

Discussion took place on the governance structure of the Combined Authority and representation on its committees. The Chair stated that he believed that there was Liberal Democrat representation on the Combined Authority.

Following discussion of the report and the updated list of appointments, the appointments agreed were;

Resolved:  (i)   Yorkshire Purchasing Organisation (YPO)-Councillor Horton to replace Councillor Williams as one of the CYC representatives.

                 (ii)    West Yorkshire Combined Authority- Councillor Alexander

                 (iii)  West Yorkshire Combined Authority- Investment Committee- Councillor Alexander (and in the role of Vice Chair, subject to appointment by the Combined Authority).

                 (iv)  West Yorkshire Combined Authority-Governance and Audit Committee- Councillor McIlveen

                 (v)  West Yorkshire Combined Authority- Overview and Scrutiny Committee- Councillors Boyce, Gunnell and Watt

                 (vi)  West Yorkshire Combined Authority- Transport Committee- Councillor Merrett to attend as an observer.

Reason:  In order to make the appropriate appointments to the Council’s Committees and Outside Bodies for the current municipal year.

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 verbal report which advised them of a discretionary request from  an ex employee of the Council to access her pension early. It was noted that a report on redundancy that had appeared on the printed agenda had been published in error. Officers apologised for this error.

Details of the request from the ex employee were contained in an exempt annex which was circulated amongst the Committee. Officers explained that legislation permitted employees access to their pensions early if they fulfilled certain criteria. The employee’s request was on the grounds of financial hardship.

Officers explained that if the request was granted then the Council would be liable to pay for the employee’s full pension costs which would cost £11,482.

Members expressed sympathy with the circumstances outlined, but were unclear if the employee had explored all support options available fully in light of personal financial circumstances and the need for ongoing care of a relative. Further questions related to whether an social care assessment had taken place to provide financial assistance for the relative and if the local Council where the employee now lived (as she lived outside of York) had known about the particular case.

Resolved:  That the request be refused.

Reason:    As the cost of granting the discretion would be not be financially viable.