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 interests, not included on the Register of Interests, or any prejudicial or disclosable pecuniary interests they may have in respect of business on the agenda. No additional interests were declared.

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

Annexes to Agenda Item 7 (Pension or Exit Discretion) on the grounds that it contains 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 consideration of annexes to Agenda Item 7 (Pension or Exit Discretion) (Minute Item 12 refers) 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).

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting of the Staffing Matters & Urgency Committee held on Monday 8 June 2015.

Resolved:  That the minutes of the last meeting of the Staffing Matters and Urgency Committee held on 8 June 2015 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 19 June 2015 at 5.00 pm.

Filming, Recording or Webcasting Meetings

Please note that this meeting may be filmed and webcast or audio recorded and that includes any registered public speakers, who have given their permission. The 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 https://www.york.gov.uk/downloads/file/6453/protocol_for_webcasting_filming_and_recording_council_meetingspdf

It was reported that there had been one registration to speak under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme, however the speaker had withdrawn prior to the meeting. She had emailed her comments to Members.

This report asks Members to agree to a number of changes to memberships of Committees and Outside Bodies and to a change in the proportionality of two of the Policy and Scrutiny Committees, Economic Development & Transport and Health & Adult Social Care.

[See also Part B minute]

Members received a report which asked them to agree to a number of changes to memberships of Committees, Outside Bodies and a change in the proportionality of two of the Policy and Scrutiny Committees.

The Committee were informed that since the last meeting, Officers had received advice that Councillor Cuthbertson could not be a member or substitute of the North Yorkshire Pension Fund Board and the Pension Fund Committee. It was therefore recommended that he withdraw as substitute from the North Yorkshire Pension Fund Committee, in order to take a place on the North Yorkshire Pension Board.

It was also suggested that consideration of appointments to the Corporate Parenting Board be deferred to the next meeting which would allow time to resolve some discrepancies with its composition, appointed membership and terms of reference.

Resolved:  (i) That the following appointments be agreed;

Staffing Matters and Urgency

Councillor Levene as the Labour substitute on the Committee

Local Plan Working Group

Councillor S Barnes as the Labour substitute on the Group

Equality Advisory Group (observer status)

Councillor Gunnell as the Labour member on the Group

Planning Committee

Councillor Looker as the Labour substitute on the Committee

Area Planning Sub-Committee

Councillor Funnell as the Labour substitute on the Committee

Joint Standards Committee

Councillor Funnell as the Labour substitute on the Group

Councillor Reid as the Liberal Democrat substitute on the Committee

Member Support Steering Group

Councillor Funnell as the Labour substitute on the Group

Councillor Aspden as the Liberal Democrat substitute on the Group

Audit and Governance Committee

Councillor Gates as the Conservative substitute, Councillor Levene as the Labour substitute and Councillor Cuthbertson as the Liberal Democrat substitute on the Committee

Gambling, Licensing and Regulatory Committee

Councillor Flinders as the final Labour representative on the Committee

Corporate Appeals Panel

Councillor Gillies as the Conservative substitute and Councillor N Barnes as the Labour substitute on the Panel

Housing Appeals Panel

Councillor Doughty as the Conservative substitute,Councillor Boyce as the Labour substitute and Cllr Mason as the Lib/Dem substitute on the Panel

Education Appeals Panel

Councillor Richardson as the Conservative substitute, Councillor S Barnes as the Labour substitute and Cllr Mason as the Lib/Dem substitute on the Panel

Environment Appeals Panel

Councillor Mercer as the Conservative substitute and Councillor Derbyshire as the Labour substitute on the Panel

Corporate & Scrutiny Management Policy & Scrutiny Committee

Councillor Derbyshire as the Labour substitute on the Committee

Economic Development & Transport Policy & Scrutiny Committee (8)

Councillor Warters as the Independent Member on the Committee

Councillor Lisle as the Conservative substitute and Councillor Gunnell as the Labour substitute on the Committee

Health & Adult Social Care Policy and Scrutiny Committee (6)

Councillor Shepherd as the Labour substitute and Cllr Fenton as the Lib/Dem substitute on the Committee

To remove Councillor Warters as the Independent Member on the Committee

Communities & Environment Policy & Scrutiny Committee

Councillor Levene as the Labour substitute and Cllr Cullwick as the Lib/Dem substitute on the Committee

Learning & Culture Policy & Scrutiny Committee

Dr Julie Dickinson  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

Members received a report which sought their approval to establish an Appointments Sub Committee for Chief Officer appointments and to delegate sufficient powers to that Sub Committee to enable it to conduct the recruitment process, select and appoint an Acting Director of City and Environmental Services, subject to the requirements of the standing orders on appointment.

The Chair made a number of points about advertising vacancies through press releases on Facebook, Twitter and encouraging  staff to ‘tweet’ the information.

In regards to how jobs for the Council were currently advertised, it was reported that;

·        The CYC Jobs website had 38,000 registered users.

·        The CYC Twitter account was used to advertise vacancies.

·        The site on which the CYC Jobs website was currently hosted would be updated in September.

One Member questioned why the senior management review would take as long as seven months, and therefore why the acting director would need to be appointed for this amount of time. It was confirmed this was to allow for proper statutory consultation about the review.

Resolved:  (i)  That the filling of the post of Acting Director of City and Environmental Services be approved.

                 (ii)  That this opportunity be advertised on the CYC Jobs website.

                 (iii)  That, mindful of resources, the post be advertised  as widely as possible using a variety of different sources including Facebook, Twitter, the CYC website and Linked In.

                 (iv) That an Appointments Sub-Committee be established and authorised to conduct the final interviews, select a successful candidate and make an offer of employment, subject to the necessary employment procedures. The sub-committee to consist of three members, on a 1:1:1 proportionate basis, one Conservative, one Liberal Democrat and one Labour Member on the Appointment Committee.

Reason:          To allow appointment to an Acting Director of City and Environmental Service to be made.

This report advises the Staffing Matters and Urgency Committee of the expenditure associated with pension or exit discretions in accordance with council policy.

Members received a report which advised them of the expenditure associated with two requests for flexible retirement. Confidential annexes containing details of the cases were circulated, at the meeting

Resolved: That the two requests for flexible retirement be agreed.

Reason:  In order for the Council to exercise its discretionary powers and agree these requests.

[See also Part A minute]

Members received a report which asked them to agree a change in the proportionality of two of the Policy and Scrutiny Committees, Economic Development & Transport and Health & Adult Social Care.

Recommended: That Council agree the change in proportionality of the Economic Development & Transport Policy & Scrutiny Committee and the Health & Adult Social Care Policy & Scrutiny Committee, as detailed in paragraph 3 of the report.

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

This report seeks approval to establish an Appointments Sub-Committee for Chief Officer appointments and to delegate sufficient powers to that Sub-Committees to enable it to conduct the recruitment process, select and appoint an Acting Director of City and Environmental Services, subject to the requirements of the standing orders on appointment.

[See also Part A minute]

Members received a report which sought their approval to establish an Appointments Sub Committee for Chief Officer appointments and to delegate sufficient powers to that Sub Committee to enable it to conduct the recruitment process, select and appoint an Acting Director of City and Environmental Services, subject to the requirements of the standing orders on appointment.

Recommended: That Council approve a salary package which is in excess of £100,000 for the post of Acting Director of City and Environmental Services, should it be necessary.

Reason:            To allow the appointment to an Acting Director of City and Environmental Services to be made