Issue - meetings

Minute 1 refers.  Please see revised Policies.

The Head of People, ICT and Property Services submitted a report setting out revisions to the Redundancy and Appeal Policies.  It was noted that to facilitate debate at the Local Joint Panel meeting held on 13 June 2012, the Director of Internal Services, suggested that the reports be submitted to this Committee subject to both the Employer’s Side and the Staff Side resolving any anomalies in advance of this meeting.  It was noted that paragraph 1.3 of the Policy, the line stating “This policy does not form part of employee’s terms and conditions of employment” had been deleted from the revised policy.  It was also noted that in paragraph 6.7, the word “strive” be changed to “endeavour”. 

Members discussed the Council’s multiplier and supported the suggestion to leave this alone.

The Head of People, ICT and Property confirmed that there were now no issues of disagreement.

Members approved the revisions to the Redundancy and Appeals policy.

RESOLVED – that the revisions to the Redundancy and Appeals Policy, as now submitted, be approved.

(see also Minute 161 above)

The Secretary to the Employer’s Side submitted a report setting out revisions to the Redundancy and Appeal Policies.  The Staff Side expressed concern that they had not had sufficient time to review these policies and the Bullying and Harassment Policy elsewhere on the agenda.  The Secretary to the Employer’s Side explained that deadlines in their submission for comment had been observed.  Staff Side disagreed adding that there had been very little time – only four working days, to review four difficult and detailed policies in order to give them the time they deserved. 

To facilitate debate, the Director of Internal Services suggested that these polices be submitted to Human Resources Committee subject to both sides resolving any anomalies in advance of the meeting.  In the event that issues cannot be resolved, then the Policies would be referred back to Local Joint Panel for further consideration.

Staff Side expressed concern regarding proposed changes in the Redundancy Policy to the Multiplier (of 2.6).  Concerns were also expressed in relation to paragraph 1.3 of the report now submitted whereby the proposed revised policy would “… not form part of employees’ terms and condition of employment”. 

A Member referred to the statutory minimum and that the Council had improved upon this, adding that East Herts Council was more generous than other Councils.  The Secretary to the Employer’s Side stated that with shared services, there was a need to review and harmonise polices. 

Staff Side expressed concern that the Redundancy and Appeals Policies were more about organisational change and that redundancy issues were given secondary consideration.  They urged the Panel to provide UNISON with more time to review the Polices adding that any suggestion to review the multiplier would not be supported, as there was no reason to reduce this.  Paul Farley (UNISON Regional Organiser) stated that the multiplier was not too generous as thought by the Employer’s Side and that any change would be detrimental to those who might be made redundant.

The Director of Internal Services explained that the Council was looking at anomalies between the three Councils and of the need for consistency between the three Councils.  He stated that it was not about reducing the 2.6 multiplier rather having three Councils with “common factors”.

The Panel supported a suggestion that the Redundancy and Appeals polices be submitted to Human Resources Committee, subject to both sides resolving any anomalies in advance of the meeting.  In the event that issues could not be resolved then the Policies would be referred back to Local Joint Panel for further consideration.

RECOMMENDED – that the Redundancy and Appeals polices be submitted to Human Resources Committee, subject to both sides resolving any anomalies in advance of the meeting.  In the event that issues cannot be resolved, then the Policies be referred back to Local Joint Panel for further consideration.