Policy and Resources (Personnel) Sub-Committee 9 March 2006
From Nigov
Policy and Resources Committee
Thursday, 9th March, 2006
MEETING OF POLICY AND RESOURCES (PERSONNEL) SUB-COMMITTEE
Members present
Councillor Moore (Deputy Chairman)(in the Chair); and Councillors Cunningham, Ekin, Moore(sic), Mullaghan, Rodgers, Rodway, Smyth and Wilson.
In attendance
- Mr S. Black (Head of Human Resources);
- Mr J. Kennedy (Head of Single Status Task Force);
- Mrs C. Christy (Principal Human Resources Advisor (Development));
- Mrs J. Minne (Principal Human Resources Advisor (Support));
- Mr I. May (WINS Project Manager); and
- Mr J. Goodall (Senior Committee Administrator).
Apology
An apology for inability to attend was reported from the Chairman (Councillor Cobain).
Minutes
The Sub-Committee considered the minutes of the meetings of 9th and 21st February, copies of which had previously been circulated.
The Senior Committee Administrator reported that the minutes of 9th February contained a typographical error in that, in the penultimate paragraph of the minute under the heading “Trades Union Response to the Management Site Position on Single Status”, the phrase “existing hours system” should have read “existing bonus system”. He requested authority to have the minute varied accordingly.
The Sub-Committee agreed that the minutes of the meetings of 9th and 21st February be taken as read and signed as correct, subject to the above-mentioned variation.
Single Status Implementation
The Head of Human Resources submitted a report in respect of the implementation of Single Status. A copy of the report, with the exception of the appendix referred to therein, is set out hereunder.
The Head of Human Resources reviewed the content of the report and tabled for the information of the Members a copy of the Trades Unions’ response to the stance adopted by the Sub-Committee at its meeting 9th February, reiterating their concerns in relation to the implementation of the Scheme. A number of Members stressed the importance of communicating to the staff the facts in relation to the impact of the Scheme and praised the work which had already been undertaken in that regard by the officers.
After further discussion, during which it was agreed that a further round of briefings for the Political Groupings on the Council be undertaken and that monthly reports be submitted to the Sub-Committee outlining the current position in progressing the implementation of the Scheme, the Sub-Committee noted the contents of the report.
Protocol for Departmental Reporting of the Length of Service of Agency Workers
The Sub-Committee considered a report, copies of which had previously been circulated, outlining proposals for the monitoring of the length of service of agency workers and the adherence to authorisation procedures.
The Head of Human Resources reviewed the guidelines in relation to the types of situations where the use of such staff might be appropriate, together with the level of managerial authorisation required, which had been established by the Chief Officers’ Management Team on 29th April, 2002. He outlined the information which it was proposed would be provided by Departments in respect of the recruitment of agency staff. He stated that the Human Resources Section would act on that information by alerting the Departments of potential issues or problems arising from the length of service or when the appropriate authorisation had not been adhered to and where other arrangements might be more appropriate to provide the required cover. In addition, the Core Improvement Team would be incorporating the monitoring of agency worker appointments into the balanced scorecard performance management reporting procedures which were due to be introduced from June, 2006. It was intended also, as a further failsafe mechanism, to include in the employment agency tender specification a requirement that the successful agency notify the Human Resources Section on those occasions when an individual agency employee’s duration of employment exceeded the pre-set period established by the Council.
After discussion, the Sub-Committee noted the information which had been provided.
Floating Day at Christmas 2006
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 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 Tuesday, 2nd January, 2007 be taken as the Christmas extra statutory day during the leave year 2006/2007, with the holiday period for Christmas 2006/2007 being Monday 25th and Tuesday 26th December, 2006 and Monday 1st and Tuesday 2nd, January, 2007 and he recommended accordingly.
The Sub-Committee adopted the recommendation.
Update on WINS Project
The Head of Human Resources submitted the undernoted report in relation to the progress which had been achieved to date in progressing the WINS Project.
After discussion, during which it was agreed that a report be submitted to the meeting of the Sub-Committee in May outlining the outcomes of the Seminar in Dublin in April and the anticipated benefits to be obtained from attending the Conference in Ahaus in June, the Sub-Committee adopted the recommendations contained within the report and approved the payment of the appropriate travelling, subsistence and attendance allowances in connection therewith.
The Council’s Joint Consultative Committee
The Sub-Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 4th April, 1995, it had approved the establishment of a Belfast City Council Joint Consultative Committee, together with a draft constitution, subject to the agenda and minutes of each meeting of the Consultative Committee being tabled for the information of the Members. Accordingly, the agenda and minutes of the Joint Consultative Committee which had been held on 15th December, copies of which had previously been circulated, were submitted for consideration.
The Sub-Committee noted the information which had been provided.
Standing Order 56 – Employment of Relatives
It was reported that, in accordance with Standing Order 56 and the authority delegated to him by the Sub-Committee at its meeting on 27th June, 2005, the Director of Corporate Services had authorised the appointment of Mr. G. Roberts to the post of Building Control Surveyor and Messrs. S. McCafferty, K. Ewing and G. Dickey to the posts of Recycling Operatives. Each person appointed was related to an existing officer of the Council.
The Sub-Committee noted the appointments.
Chairman
