Issue - meetings

The Human Resources and Organisational Development Manager introduced the report. He said that the update to the Bullying and Harassment Policy was in response to statutory changes.

The Chair circulated two copies of the updated policy to the Panel, on which Unison representatives had made further comments and suggested further amendments. She said that the amendments were both grammatical and legislative, and included the naming of the protective characteristics.

The Chair said that with the agreement of the Panel she proposed that a redraft of the policy (to show all of the Unison comments and amendments with tracked changes) be circulated to Members outside of the meeting. She said that this would enable them to give the policy their attention without the time constraints of the meeting and allow them to add their own comments/ suggested amendments on one document.

The Chair said that the final version of the policy would then be emailed to the Panel for their oversight and recommended for approval by the Human Resources Committee at their meeting on 20 November 2024. 

The Chair said that moving forward her intention was that future policies to be drafted by officers, and a workshop set up to enable officers and union members to formulate any proposed changes prior to them coming before the Panel.

The Panel agreed with this approach.

Councillor Daar said that it was sensible to update the terminology within the policy.

Councillor Dumont agreed, noting that there was nothing unreasonable within the amended policy.

The Human Resources and Organisational Development Manager said he did not disagree with any of the comments received from the Panel.

It was moved by Sharon Forde and seconded by Councillor Dumont, that the recommendations, as detailed, be approved. After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, this motion was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED – that (A) delegation be given to the Chair to circulate the amended policy to the Panel for their comments, and the final version of the updated Bullying and Harassment Policy be recommended to the Human Resources Committee for approval.

(B) that the action plan be recommended to the Human Resources Committee for approval.