Policy and Resources (Personnel) Sub-Committee 8 February 2007
From Nigov
Policy and Resources Committee Thursday, 8th February, 2007
MEETING OF POLICY AND RESOURCES (PERSONNEL) SUB-COMMITTEE
Members present
Councillor Cobain (Chairman); and Councillors Ekin, Moore and Rodgers.
In attendance
- Mr. S. Black (Head of Human Resources)
- Mrs. J. Leslie (Principal Consultant)
- Mrs. C. Christy (Principal Human Resources Advisor)
- Ms. J. Minne (Principal Human Resources Advisor)
- Mr. N. Malcolm (Committee Administrator)
Apologies
Apologies for inability to attend were reported from Councillors Mullaghan and Rodway.
Minutes
The minutes of the meetings of 6th December and 11th and 16th January were taken as read and signed as correct.
Single Status Implementation
The Head of Human Resources reminded the Sub-Committee that, at its meeting on 16th January, it had adopted the contents of a Management Side final position paper in relation to the implementation of Single Status. He reported that, following discussion in the matter at the meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee on 19th January, a series of briefings for each of the Party Groupings represented on the Council had been undertaken in order to provide the Members with more detailed information in relation to some of the issues contained within the paper. He reported that, following adoption of the final position paper by the Council, it had been presented to the Unions with a request that they ballot their members. Subsequently, correspondence had been received from the Unions which indicated that there were three issues on which they wanted to undertake further negotiations and that they would wish to conclude these negotiations or move to assisted bargaining before going to ballot. These three issues were Task and Finish, Retention Allowance and the Common Effective Date.
The Head of Human Resources outlined the options available to the Council and recommended that he be authorised to continue to negotiate with the Trades Unions regarding Task and Finish, the Retention Allowance and the Common Effective Date. He pointed out that the negotiations between the Council and the Trades Unions regarding the introduction of Single Status in Belfast had made considerably more progress than many similar negotiations involving Local Authorities in the United Kingdom and, indeed, in the rest of Northern Ireland.
Following discussion, the Sub-Committee agreed that the Head of Human Resources hold further meetings with each of the Party Groupings represented on the Council regarding the issues which had been raised by the Trades Unions. In addition, the Sub-Committee agreed that he now commence further negotiations with the Trades Unions regarding the three issues in an attempt to have the matter resolved, on the understanding that the discussions must be concluded not later than the date of the next monthly meeting of the Sub-Committee scheduled to be held on 14th March and, in the event that no agreement could be reached with the Trades Unions, the matter become the subject of assisted bargaining.
Centralising the Engagement of Agency Staff
The Sub-Committee considered the contents of the undernoted report.
After discussion, the Sub-Committee adopted the recommendation and agreed that a policy be drafted, for submission to a future meeting, on the use of agency workers.
Workplace Health Unit Services to Elected Members
The Head of Human Resources indicated that the recent tragic death of Councillor Ervine had raised awareness amongst Elected Members of the need to monitor and care for their health. As a result, a number of Members had sought clarification regarding the support services which were available to them from the Workplace Health Unit. He outlined the services which the Unit provided and indicated that they were available to both staff and Elected Members.
The Sub-Committee noted the information which had been provided and agreed that all Members of the Council be advised of the services which were available to them through the Workplace Health Unit.
Statutory Holiday for St. Patrick's Day and Floating Day at Christmas 2007
The Head of Human Resources informed the Sub-Committee that the National Agreement on Pay and Conditions of Service for former administrative, professional, technical and clerical staff and manual workers and the new National Agreement for craft and associated employees made provision for employees to receive two extra statutory days' holiday each year, the timing of which was to be determined in consultation with the recognised Trades Unions or added to annual leave by local agreement. He pointed out that, traditionally, one extra day had been taken on 13th July and the other day during the Christmas period.
The Head of Human Resources stated that the Joint Consultative Committee had proposed that, since St. Patrick's Day this year fell on a Saturday, that Monday, 19th March be taken as the statutory holiday and that Monday, 31st December be taken as the Christmas extra statutory day during the leave year 2007/2008. This would mean that the holiday period for Christmas 2007/2008 would be Tuesday 25th, Wednesday 26th and Monday 31st December, 2007 and Tuesday, 1st January, 2008. In addition, the Consultative Committee had agreed that the remaining extra statutory holiday be Friday, 13th July and he recommended that the Sub-Committee agree to these proposals.
The Sub-Committee adopted the recommendation.
Internet Recruitment System
The Sub-Committee noted the contents of a report (This should be requested under Freedom of Information) which provided an update in respect of the Internet Recruitment System and noted that a further report would be submitted for consideration prior to the system going live on an external basis.when?
Bi-Monthly Review of the Vacancy Control Process
The Sub-Committee was reminded that the Policy and Resources Committee, at its meeting on 21st April, 2006, had adopted a corporate "vetting" approach in relation to the Council's Vacancy Control Process and had agreed the criteria against which all requests for the following vacant posts would be evaluated.
The Head of Human Resources reported that, during the period from 2nd October, 2006 till 23rd January, 2007, 63 requests for vacant posts had been received and evaluated against the pre-agreed criteria. Of these posts, 28 had been approved to be filled on a permanent basis and the remaining 35 approved for filling on a non-permanent basis. He reported also on the total numbers of vacant posts which had been considered since the procedures had been introduced and the criteria which had been used in determining whether or not they be filled.
He informed the Members that the vacancy control process had been reviewed recently by the Chief Officers' Management Team which had agreed that, whilst the process had been useful, a more strategic approach would need to be considered in light of the Local Government Staff Commission's consultation document entitled "Managing Vacancies Effectively", which sought to safeguard the employment of existing staff whose posts might be affected as a result of the decisions arising from the Review of Public Administration. He reported that it was anticipated that detailed guidance in respect of the Staff Commission's vacancy control process would be issued in March to be implemented by Councils across Northern Ireland and, therefore, any agreed approach would require to be incorporated into the Council's vacancy control process for agreement by the Sub-Committee. Accordingly a report on the matter would be submitted to a future meeting.
After discussion, the Sub-Committee noted the information which had been provided and noted also that a further report regarding possible changes to the vacancy control process would be submitted following the publication of the Local Government Staff Commission's paper regarding its vacancy control process.
The Council's Joint Consultative Committee
The agenda and minutes of the meeting of the Belfast City Council Joint Consultative Committee which had been held on 14th December were submitted for consideration.
The Sub-Committee noted the information which had been provided.
Chairman
