Remit
7.1 The Local Joint Panel is
the joint union and employer negotiation and consultative
body.
Membership and Meeting Arrangements
7.2 The Local Joint Panel will
consist of four Members of the Council (‘the Employer’)
to be appointed annually by the Council and four representatives of
officers drawn from the constituent trade union (currently
UNISON).
7.3 Named substitute members
may be appointed by either side, to attend meetings of the Local
Joint Panel in the absence of a member thereof, provided prior
notice is given to the Head of Legal and Democratic
Services.
7.4 In the event of any
failure to appoint/elect the number of representatives provided for
by this Constitution, such failure to appoint/elect shall not
invalidate the decisions of the Panel.
7.5 If a member of the Local
Joint Panel ceases to be a Member or officer of the council he or
she shall cease to be a member of the Local Joint Panel; any
vacancy shall be filled by the council, the constituent trade union
or the combination of the two.
7.6 A Chairman and a
Vice-Chairman shall be appointed by the Local Joint Panel at its
first meeting in each year. If the Chairman appointed is a Member
of the Council, the Vice-Chairman shall be appointed from the
officer side, and vice versa. The appointment of the Chairman of
the Panel shall be rotated on an annual basis between the
Employer’s side and the Employees’ side. The Chairman
of a meeting may vote as a Panel member but shall not have a
casting vote.
7.7 The Head of Human
Resources and Organisational Development or a senior Human
Resources Officer shall act as secretary to the Employer’s
Side.
7.8 The Local Joint Panel
shall meet during office hours as and when required, but not less
than quarterly. The Chairman or Vice-Chairman may direct the
secretary to call a meeting at any time. A meeting shall be called
within seven days of the receipt of a requisition signed by at
least two members of either side. The
matters to be discussed at any meeting of the Local Joint Panel
shall be stated upon the notice summoning the meeting.
7.9 Agendas shall be prepared
by the Democratic Services Team, after discussion with the Head of
HR and OD (or a senior Human Resources Officer), the Chairman and
the Vice-Chairman, and shall be circulated at least five clear days
before the meeting.
7.10 Either
side will have the right to co-opt, in a consultative capacity,
representatives of particular interests affected by a question
under discussion which are not directly represented on the Panel
but only for the period during which the relevant question is under
consideration.
7.11 Either
side shall arrange for the attendance in an advisory capacity of an
officer or trade union official at any Panel meeting where it would
be helpful to the business under discussion.
7.12
Attendances at 7.10 and 7.11 above shall be notified in advance to
the Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development in his
or her capacity as secretary to the Employer’s
Side.
7.13 No
recommendation shall be regarded as carried unless it has been
approved by a majority of the members present on each side of the
Local Joint Panel, and in the event of either the Local Joint Panel
being unable to arrive at an agreement or the relevant council body
disagreeing with the Panel's recommendations, then the matter in
dispute should be referred to the Executive by way of
mediation.
7.14 The
proceedings of any meeting of the Local Joint Panel shall be
recorded and reported at the appropriate Council meeting, but
before submission, the Minutes shall be approved by the Panel
Chairman and Vice-Chairman.
Delegation of Functions
7.15 The
functions of the Local Joint Panel shall be:
(a) To establish regular
methods of consultation and negotiation between the council and its
officers on matters of mutual concern with the intent of
maintaining and developing an efficient service. This process will
aim to address differences should they arise with a genuine
commitment to seek consensus and enter into agreements, as
appropriate. No question of any
individual's discipline, promotion, efficiency or conditions of
employment shall be within the scope of the Joint Panel;
(b) To consider any relevant
matter referred to it by a committee of the council, or by any of
the officer organisations;
(c) To make
recommendations to Human Resources Committee and/or a suitable
committee of the council as to the application of the terms and
conditions of service and the education and training of officers of
the council;
(d) To discharge such other
functions specifically referred to the Local Joint Panel with the
exception of staffing issues;
(e) To consider matters
relating to Health and Safety at Work referred to the Local Joint
Panel by an Employee Association or by a committee of the council;
and
(f) the trade union(s) recognised by the council shall
represent all council officers. This will include raising issues on
behalf of non-trade union members, should they be
requested.
Procedure at meetings
7.16
Procedure
at meetings shallbeinaccordance withthe Council Procedure
Rules, except as provided for in 7.17
below.
7.17 The
quorum of the Local Joint Panel shall be two representatives of
each side.