Agenda and minutes

The Committee is asked to note any apologies for absence and substitutions received from Members.

Apologies were received by Councillor Calver and Katie Wilkins (HR and Business Manager), with no substitutions.

To confirm and sign as a correct record, the minutes of the last meeting of the Committee, held on Thursday 25 February 2021.

It was moved by Councillor Stephenson, seconded by Councillor Griffiths and RESOLVED that the minutes of the last meeting of the Committee, held on Thursday 25 February 2021 be approved as a correct record.

Councillors are invited to declare any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests or Personal Interest, and the nature of it, in relation to any item on the agenda.

Councillor Griffiths declared for the public record that he was a member of the GMB union but had no involvement with Tendring District Council in that capacity.

Councillor S Honeywood declared for the public record that a member of her family was an employee of Tendring District Council. She was not pre-determined and therefore, participated in the Committee’s decisions.

Subject to providing two working days’ notice, a Member of the Committee may ask the Chairman of the Committee a question on any matter in relation to which the Council has powers or duties which affect the Tendring District and which falls within the terms of reference of the Committee.

No Questions on Notice had been submitted on this occasion.

The Council will receive a verbal update from the Council’s Organisational Development Manager (Carol Magnus) on the latest developments within the Authority in relation to transformation and hybrid working.

The Committee received from Carol Magnus, Organisational Development Manager an oral update on the Council’s Transformation and Hybrid Working.

No questions were raised by Members of the Committee on the above update.

Following a discussion, it was RESOLVED that the update be noted.

To provide the Human Resources & Council Tax Committee with an updated Social Media Policy.

Will Lodge, Communications Manager, presented the Social Media Policy to the Committee.

No questions were raised by Members of the Committee on the above Policy.

Following a discussion, it was proposed by Councillor Griffiths, and seconded by Councillor S Honeywood, and RESOLVED:-

a)    that the Human Resources and Council Tax Committee formally approves and adopts the revised Officer’ Social Media Policy; and

b)    that the Assistant Director (Partnerships) be authorised to update the policy with any future legislative or best practice changes, in consultation with the Council’s Communications Manager (and others as outlined within the policy).

To provide Members of the Human Resources and Council Tax Committee with an update on current staffing statistics.

Anastasia Simpson, the Assistant Director (Partnerships) informed the Committee of the current staffing figures in relation to the following:

-          Career Track Programme

-          Age Profile

-          Disability Profile

-          Ethnicity Profile

-          Sickness Absence

There were no questions raised by Member of the Committee on the above report.

Following a discussion, it was RESOLVED that the contents of the report be noted.

To seek approval for the adoption of a Tendring District Council Fleet Management and Driving for Work Policy.

Ian Taylor, Head of Public Realm, presented the ‘Adoption of Fleet Management and Driving for Work Policy’ to the Committee.

Members raised questions on the above which were responded to by Officers.

Following a discussion, it was proposed by Councillor Griffiths, seconded by Councillor Baker, and RESOLVED that the policy be deferred and brought back to the Committee subject to a number of alterations.

Members of the Committee with suggested alterations (Cllrs Baker, Stephenson and Griffiths) agreed to send their comments to Ian Taylor, Head of Public Realm.

To inform Members of the Human Resources and Council Tax Committee of the successful renewal of the Council’s Disability Confident Leader Status for a further 3 years.

Carol Magnus (Organisational Development Manager) informed the Committee of the successful renewal of the ‘Disability Confident Leader Status’ for a further 3 years.

Members raised questions on the above which were responded to by Officers.

Following a discussion, it was proposed by Councillor Morrison, seconded by Councillor Stephenson, and RESOLVED subject to the below recommendation:-

-          that the Chairman of the Committee writes to officers involved to commend them for their involvement and efforts.

To present the revised Discretionary Market Forces Policy (which has been updated in line with best practice) to the Human Resources & Council Tax Committee.

Carol Magnus (Organisational Development Manager) presented the revised ‘Discretionary Market Forces Policy’ to the Committee.

No questions were raised by Members of the Committee on the above Policy Review.

Following a discussion, it was proposed by Councillor Amos, seconded by Councillor Stephenson, and RESOLVED:-

-          that the Committee approves the content of the revised Discretionary Market Forces Policy.

It was moved by Councillor Baker, seconded by Councillor Griffiths and:-

RESOLVED that under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of Agenda Item 12 on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 4 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A, as amended, of the Act.

RESOLVED:- that the Market Forces Supplement applied for all qualified (first degree in Planning or the Postgraduate degree in Planning) Planning Officers be continued for a period of two years from the point of agreement, at which point a review will be undertaken in line with the Council’s Discretionary Market Forces Policy.