Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Wallfields, Hertford

Contact: Lorraine Blackburn  Tel: (01279) 502172 Email:  lorraine.blackburn@eastherts.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Appointment of Chairman and Vice Chairman

Minutes:

It was moved by Councillor L Haysey and seconded by Councillor L Radford that Councillor J Goodeve be appointed Chairman for the civic year 2018/19.  After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, the motion was declared CARRIED and Councillor J Goodeve was appointed Chairman of the Local Joint Panel for the civic year 2018/19.

 

It was moved by Ms F Bruce and seconded by Mr S Ellis that Mr A Stevenson be appointed Vice Chairman for the civic year 2018/19.  After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, the motion was declared CARRIED and Mr A Stevenson was appointed Vice Chairman of the Local Joint Panel for the civic year 2018/19.

 

RESOLVED – that (A) Councillor J Goodeve be appointed Chairman for 2018/19; and

 

(B)   Mr A Stevenson, be appointed Vice Chairman for 2018/19.

 

2.

Apology

To receive apologies for absence.

Minutes:

An apology for absence was submitted on behalf of Ms F Brown (UNISON).

 

3.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 58 KB

To confirm the Minutes of the meeting held on 21 March 2018

Minutes:

It was moved by Councillor L Radford and seconded by Ms F Bruce that the Minutes of the meeting be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.  After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, the motion was declared CARRIED.

 

RESOLVED – that the Minutes of the meeting held on 21 March 2018 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

 

4.

Chairman's Announcements

Minutes:

The Chairman commented that there were no reports from the Secretary to the Employer’s side.

 

4a

Restructure Consultation Policy pdf icon PDF 53 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Secretary to the Staff Side (UNISON) submitted a report and provided Members with a summary of the report.  He said that the Local Joint Panel should be a useful forum for staff and management to look at and air issues of concern. 

 

The Secretary to the Staff Side expressed concern that some aspects of the Local Joint Panel’s Powers and Duties had been changed without consultation and without the agreement of UNSION and that these had subsequently been agreed at Council on 16 May 2018.  Councillor L Haysey commented that this was a totally different issue to the item under discussion and should be considered elsewhere on the agenda. 

 

The Secretary to the Staff Side expressed concern that the proposed Restructure Consultation Policy (last considered by the Local Joint Panel in November 2017) had not been progressed and that staff were very concerned about the number of concurrent restructures which had taken place since 2016.  He stated that staff felt that their views were being ignored and that this was affecting production and staff morale.

 

The Secretary to the Employer’s Side explained that she accepted that there had been a lack of progress in relation to the report since the departure of the previous Head of Human Resources.  She assured UNISON that staff were not being ignored and that it was her view that the Council should move forward positively with a policy to address Organisational Change. 

 

The Secretary to the Employer’s Side explained that she was committed to working in partnership with UNISON and expressed her concerns about the way in which papers had been presented to the Local Joint Panel.  Additionally, she said that the comments shown in Essential Reference Paper “A” were not submitted by HR. She explained the current regular arrangements with UNISON to discuss issues.

 

The Secretary to the Employer’s Side explained that she was currently looking into the issue of the LJP’s changed powers and agreed to work with UNISON and bring this item back to the next LJP to update on progress.  In response to the question of staff morale, she provided statistics on the positive results of the staff survey. 

 

The Secretary to the Employer’s Side reminded the Panel on what policies were currently in place to support individuals and business need.  She explained that it was possible to carry out multiple consultations concurrently, adding that UNISON’s report contained some factual inaccuracies and that the policy submitted seemed to be unfinished.  The Secretary to the Employer’s Side suggested that the Council should have an Organisational Change Policy which covered all aspects of organisational change.  She accepted that no progress had been made to the report which had been submitted in November 2017 as it was her belief following a meeting with UNISON this was not considered to be a priority.

 

Councillor E Buckmaster supported the view of encapsulating all policies under one document.  He stated that, in his view, the purpose of the LJP was for all Panel Members to achieve  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4a

5.

Urgent Business

To consider such other business as, in the opinion of the Chairman of the meeting, is of sufficient urgency to warrant consideration and is not likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information.

Minutes:

The Panel Chairman agreed to accept an urgent item of business onto the agenda in order to facilitate the partnership working arrangements between the Staff and Employer’s side.

 

The Secretary to the Staff Side expressed concern that the LJP’s powers and duties had been changed and this had been agreed at Annual Council on 16 May 2018 without consultation with the Staff Side.  He explained that this had removed the power to refer matters to the Joint Secretaries when a recommendation could not be supported.  The Secretary to the Staff Side said that the changes agreed were significant and he had strong reservations about these unapproved changes. 

 

The Secretary to the Employer’s Side explained that she had contacted the Head of Legal and Democratic Services as soon as the matter had been brought to her attention and this was   currently under review.  She hoped that the Employer’s Side would continue to work in partnership with UNISON.  

 

The Secretary to the Staff Side asked that a further issue be considered by the Panel as “Any Other Business” regarding issues within Pest Control.  The Panel Chairman advised the Secretary to the Staff Side that there was no provision to raise items under “Any Other Business” and that a report should be prepared by the Secretary to the Staff Side for consideration at the next Local Joint Panel meeting in September 2018. 

 

The Secretary to the Staff Side commented that this could not wait until September 2018.  The LJP was advised that its constitution provided for either side to call another meeting of the Panel upon the receipt of a requisition signed by at least two members of either side.