Issue - meetings

Report of the Director of Governance attached.

Council considered a report of the Director of Governance which sought approval of updates to the terms of reference of the Appointment and Employment Panel.

Following a recent difficult employment-related process and discussions with the Local Government Association, it was deemed appropriate to amend these terms of reference to provide greater clarity.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Paul Foster, requested an amendment to the proposal to remove the Initial Filter Panel from the process of dealing with disciplinary matters.

An example of where the Initial Filter Panel had dismissed a complaint against a senior officer that was later found to have merit was cited as reason for its removal from the terms of reference of the Committee.

Some members of the Conservative group expressed concern with the lack of notice of this amendment and queried whether this would comply with the Joint Negotiating Committee’s Model Disciplinary Procedure. Assurances of this were given.

The Amended Motion was seconded by Councillor Mick Titherington and subsequently

RESOLVED: (Unanimously)

That, subject to the removal of the Initial Filter Panel from the disciplinary process, the proposed Terms of Reference for the Appointment and Employment Panel for insertion in the council’s Constitution be approved.