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 if they had any personal, prejudicial or disclosable pecuniary interests that they might have had in the business on the agenda. None were declared.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting of the Staffing Matters & Urgency Committee held on 18 January 2016.

Resolved: That the minutes of the Staffing Matters and Urgency Committee held on 18 January 2016 be signed and approved by the Chair as a correct record.

At this point in the meeting members of the public who have registered to speak can do so.  The deadline for registering is 5.00pm on Friday 29 January 2016.  Members of the public can speak on agenda items or matters within the remit of the committee.

To register to speak please contact the Democracy Officer for the meeting, on the details at the foot of the agenda.

Filming, Recording or Webcasting Meetings

Please note this meeting may be filmed and webcast or audio recorded and that includes any registered public speakers, who have given their permission.  This broadcast can be viewed at http://www.york.gov.uk/webcasts. or, if sound recorded, this will be uploaded onto the Council website following the meeting.

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/file/6453/protocol_for_webcasting_filming_and_recording_of_council_meetingspdf

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

Andrea Dudding from UNISON spoke regarding Agenda Item 4 (Organisational Review- Senior Management Arrangements within the City of York Council). She expressed concerns at how staff had found out about the proposals for the new organisational structure and asked for greater consultation. She also questioned the use of consultants. 

Finally she stated that the appointment of the Director of City and Environmental Services should be kept as interim and not permanent when the overall organisational structure was yet to be determined and that a decision on the appointment should be deferred.

This report provides an update on the review of the senior management and the development of an organisational structure which will support the future operating model in the council.  It has been agreed that this review will achieve a minimum of £150k savings from 2016/17.

It also seeks approval to establish Appointment Sub-Committees for Chief Officer appointments and to delegate sufficient powers to those Sub-Committees to enable them to conduct the recruitment process, select and appoint a Director of City and Environmental Services and a Director of Public Health, subject to the requirements of the standing orders on appointment and the statutory instrument NHS (Appointment of Consultants) Regulations 1996 as amended (S.I. 1996/701 as amended by S.I. 2002/2469, S.I. 2003/1250, S.I. 2004/696 and S.I. 2004/3365).

[See also under Part B Minute]

Members received a report which updated them on a review of senior management and the development of an organisational structure to support a future operating model in the council.

The report also sought approval to establish two Appointment Sub Committees for Chief Officer appointments and to delegate sufficient powers to those Sub Committees to enable them to conduct the recruitment process, select and appoint a Director of City and Environmental Services and a Director of Public Health, subject to the instrument NHS (Appointment of Consultants) Regulations 1996 as amended (S.I. 1996/701 as amended by S.I. 2002/2469, S.I. 2003/1250,S.I. 2004/696 and S.I. 2004/3365).

Discussion took place during which the following points were raised;

·        There had been a reduction in the use of consultants within the Council.

·        There was a need to recruit a full time Director of Public Health to provide stability and strategic direction for the service.

·        Members wanted to be assured that there would still be  capacity, expertise and skills when areas covered by what is currently the Office of the Chief Executive transferred into Directorates.

Councillor Steward apologised that the Trade Unions had not been briefed about the proposal before they were made public. He added that transformation and change needed to be embedded at the heart of every service. In regards to advertising the two posts it was agreed that these would be advertised as widely as possible.

Resolved:  (i)      The filling of the post of Director of City and Environmental Services on a salary scale of £89,842 to £102,766 be approved.

                  (ii)      That the filling of the position of the Director of Public Health on a salary scale of £89,842 to £102,766 be approved.

                  (iii)      That these opportunities be advertised as widely as possible, including on the CYC Jobs Website and for the Director of Public Health the NHS Jobs Website and in a hard copy journal such as the Health Service Journal as well as promoting the opportunity using social media channels and public health networks.

                  (iv)     That an Appointments Sub Committee is established and authorised to conduct the final interviews, select a successful candidate and make an offer of employment subject to the necessary employment procedures for the Director of City and Environmental Services. This sub-committee will consist of the following members;

·          Councillor Gillies

·          Councillor Levene

·          Councillor Reid

(v)     That an Advisory Appointments Committee, constituted in accordance with NHS Statutory Instruments governing recruitment to consultant level roles in the NHS is established. This Advisory Appointments Committee will consist of the following members;

·        Councillor Runciman (as Chair of the Health and Wellbeing Board)

·        Councillor Doughty

·        Councillor Cannon

Reason:              To allow for appointments to be made to the Director of City and Environmental Services and Director of Public Health.

[See also under Part A Minute]

Members received a report which sought approval to establish two Appointment Sub Committees for Chief Officer appointments and to delegate sufficient powers to those Sub Committees to enable them to conduct the recruitment process, select and appoint a Director of City and Environmental Services and a Director of Public Health, subject to the instrument NHS (Appointment of Consultants) Regulations 1996 as amended (S.I. 1996/701 as amended by S.I. 2002/2469, S.I. 2003/1250,S.I. 2004/696 and S.I. 2004/3365).

Recommend:     That Council approves a salary package for the Director of City and Environmental Services and the Director of Public Health which is in excess of £100,000, should it be necessary.

Reason:              To allow for the appointments to be made.