Agenda and draft minutes

To authorise the Chairman to sign, as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 16 December 2022 (copy attached).

RESOLVED – That the Chairman be authorised to sign, as a correct record, the minutes of the Human Resources Committee meeting held on 16 December 2022.

To receive declarations by Members of interests in respect of items on this Agenda.

Members are reminded that, in accordance with the revised Code of Conduct, they are required to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests or other registrable interests which have not already been declared in the Council’s Register of Interests.  (It is a criminal offence not to declare a disclosable pecuniary interest either in the Register or at the meeting.)

Members may, however, also decide, in the interests of clarity and transparency, to declare at this point in the meeting, any such disclosable pecuniary interests which they have already declared in the Register, as well as any other registrable or other interests.

If a Member requires advice on any item involving a possible declaration of interest which could affect his/her ability to speak and/or vote, he/she is advised to contact the Monitoring Officer at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting.

No declarations of interest were raised.

To receive the minutes of the meeting of the Appeals Sub-Committee held on 21 December 2022 (to follow) and for the Chairman of that Sub-Committee to sign as a correct record.

RESOLVED – That the Chairman be authorised to sign, as a correct record, the minutes of the Appeals Sub-Committee meeting held on 1 and 21 December 2022.

To consider a verbal LGR update on progress as at 7 February 2023.

The Human Resources Lead Specialist provided a verbal update on progress on the normal reports that would be considered by the Human Resources Committee. Members were informed that the Pay Policy report, which would normally be considered by the Committee, however the new Westmorland and Furness Council had published the pay policy report as the responsible authority which would cover Council staff from 1 April 2023.

Regarding the sickness absence report, this was also something to be considered by the new Westmorland and Furness Council. The Human Resources Lead Specialist updated members on the current situation noting that last year ended with 12.8 days per employee, however the most recent figures showed 7.8 days per employee which was close to the target of 7.5 days which was the lowest for five to six years. Members were informed of the work that the Human Resources Team was doing regarding wellbeing as well as designing new elements for the Westmorland and Furness Council.

RESOLVED – That the verbal update be received.

To consider whether the items, if any, in Part II of the Agenda should be considered in the presence of the press and public.

RESOLVED - That the item in Part II of the Agenda be dealt with following the exclusion of the press and public.

RESOLVED - That, under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public, be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part 1 of Schedule 12 A of the Act as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006 by virtue of the paragraphs indicated.

To consider a report which provides Members with an updated organisational establishment list with changes since the last update in February 2022. The Establishment of permanent and temporary/fixed term staff enables the Council to meet service demands. 

The Human Resources Lead Specialist presented the report which provided members with an updated organisational establishment list further to the previous update in February 2022.

RESOLVED – That

(1)   the changes outlined in the report and the accompanying appendices be approved;

(2)   the updated Establishment List as at Appendix A be approved;

(3)   the Establishment List be recommended to Westmorland and Furness Council to be used to provide a final SLDC Establishment update and set future staffing budgets to enable the new Council to approve overall staffing requirements;

(4)   the disestablishment of the post of Operational Lead Delivery and Commercial Services be approved; and

(5)   the disestablishment of the post of Operational Lead Support Services be approved.

To delegate authority for the sign-off of final set of committee minutes to the

Monitoring Officer in consultation with the Chair.

The Chair thanked all officers and members who had been involved with the Human Resources Committee in her term as Chair.