Minutes

Proposed venue: Havant Borough Council, Public Service Plaza, Civic Centre Road, Havant, Hants PO9 2AX or East Hants District Council, Penns Place, Petersfield, Hants GU31 4EX

Contact: Penny Milne  Democratic Services Officer

Items
No. Item

1.

Appointment of Chairman

Minutes:

RESOLVED that Councillor Mrs Marjorie Smallcorn be appointed as Chairman of the Joint Human Resources Committee for 2012/13.

Councillor Mrs Smallcorn in the Chair

2.

Appointment of Vice- Chairman

Minutes:

RESOLVED that Councillor Carter be appointed as Vice-Chairman of the Joint Human Resources Committee for 2012/13.

3.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Mrs Gwen Blackett, Bill Mouland and Maurice Johnson MBE.

4.

Minutes

Minutes:

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Havant Borough Council Staffing Matters Committee held on 19 June 2012 be approved as a correct record.

5.

Matters Arising

Minutes:

Shared Management and Joint Working

 

In response to a member, the officers undertook to explore options for providing training for members of both HBC and EHDC with regard to the different social, economic and cultural characteristics pertaining to each area.

 

Risk Management

 

In response to a query from a member, officers confirmed that arrangements were now in place at HBC for the corporate key risks register to be monitored by the Governance and Logistics Scrutiny Panel on a quarterly basis in conjunction with the Corporate Performance Healthcheck.  A similar arrangement for risk management to be monitored through the EHDC overview and scrutiny function was also in place.

 

6.

Exclusion of the Public

Minutes:

RESOLVED that the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the minute headed and numbered as below it being likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted, or the nature of the proceedings that if members of the public were present during that minute there would be disclosure to them of exempt information of the description specified in paragraphs 1 and 2 of Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 shown against the heading in question.

 

Minute 12 – Terms and Conditions Review – Update Paper (paragraph 4)

 

7.

Declarations of Interests

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interests from any of the members present.

8.

Chairman's Report

Minutes:

There were no matters the Chairman wished to report.

9.

Human Resources Panels

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report recommending the appointment of two Human Resources Panels for the purpose of dealing with appeals against dismissal locally.

 

The Committee also noted that both Councils’ adopted grievance procedures provided for appeals against the outcome of grievances to be referred to members for determination.  It was therefore recommended that the Committee’s terms of reference be amended so as to enable any such appeals to be referred to the relevant local Human Resources Panel.

 

(A)       RESOLVED that

 

(1)       the following members from each authority be appointed to sit on two local Human Resources Panels in accordance with the Committees’ terms of reference:

 

East Hampshire District Council    

Cllr Judy Onslow

Cllr Ken Carter

Cllr Angela Glass

Cllr Chris Wherrell (Standing Deputy)

 

Havant Borough Council

Cllr John Hunt

Cllr Mrs G Blackett

Cllr Mrs M Smallcorn

Cllr C Hilton (Standing Deputy)

 

(2)       Training be provided for members of the Panels on dealing with grievances and appeals against dismissal.

 

(B)       RECOMMENDED to both Full Councils that paragraph (2)(d) of the Committee’s terms of reference be amended to read:

 

“(2)(d)    to appoint Panels as appropriate to hear appeals against dismissal from the Council’s employment and appeals at stage two of the Grievance Procedure.”

 

 

10.

Criminal Records Bureau Disclosure Policy

Minutes:

The Committee received a report setting out an overview of the revised Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) Disclosure Policy which had been drafted for use across Havant Borough Council (HBC) and East Hampshire District Council (EHDC).

 

A Criminal Convictions Procedure had also been drafted to support HBC and EHDC to reach appropriate decisions relating to the employment of staff with a criminal record.

 

Both the Policy and Procedure were intended to ensure HBC and EHDC fulfilled the legal obligations governing criminal record checks for regulated positions and complied fully with the CRB Code of Practice.

 

The Committee was now requested to recommend that the draft CRB Disclosure Policy and the Criminal Convictions Procedure be approved and adopted by  EHDC Full Council at its meeting on 25 October 2012 and by HBC Full Council at its meeting on 17 October 2012.    

 

(A)       RESOLVED that the content of the report be noted;

 

(B)       RECOMMENDED to EHDC Full Council that the draft CRB Disclosure Policy set out in Appendix 1a and the Criminal Convictions Procedure set out in Appendix 2a be approved and adopted; and

 

(C)       RECOMMENDED to HBC Full Council that the draft CRB Disclosure Policy set out in Appendix 1b and the Criminal Convictions Procedure set out in Appendix 2b be approved and adopted.

 

11.

Shared E-Learning

Minutes:

Members of Joint HR Committee were asked to note that a review had recently been undertaken of the e-learning systems at both Councils.

 

The review had been undertaken by the Human Resources team to identify ways in which the cost of e-learning could be reduced, the usage of e-learning could be increased and learning opportunities could be equal for all staff across both Councils.

 

The report provided members of the Committee with information on the review and also provided information on the recommendations that had been approved by Joint Executive Board on 18September 2012.

 

During the course of the debate, officers gave an assurance that, where staff failed to achieve satisfactory levels of achievement through e-learning, alternative training tailored to their needs, would be provided.  The officers also agreed to arrange for members of the Committee to be given a demonstration of the e-learning system.

 

RESOLVED that the following Joint Executive Board decision in relation to shared e-learning be noted:

 

(a)       the implementation of a shared E-Learning system across both Councils;

(b)       the use of ‘Learningpool’ as the provider; and

(c)        the implementation of an annual E-Learning plan to ensure regulatory and compliance requirements are met.

 

12.

Terms and Conditions Review - Update Paper

Minutes:

(This minute was taken in Camera)

 

The Committee received a confidential report providing an update with regard to the ongoing review of terms and conditions.

 

During the course of the debate the officers undertook to circulate additional financial information to members of the Committee after the meeting.

 

RESOLVED that the content of the report be noted and that a further updated be provided in due course as negotiations continue.