Decision details

Delegation on Employment Issues

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: No

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Decisions:

The Chief Executive reported upon a proposal to delegate to him, as the Head of Paid Service, the power to make appropriate arrangements for conducting appeals in connection with gradings, grievances or disciplinary action against or dismissal of employees.

 

Currently such arrangements were delegated to the Appeals Sub-Committee of the Employment and Appointments Committee. It was recommended that the council move to the practice common in many authorities where the Chief Executive, as Head of Paid Service, ensured that appropriate appeal arrangements were established. Again this accorded with the feedback from the Peer Challenge which recommended that roles were clarified to ensure elected members did not get too involved in operational matters and officers were empowered to take decisions.

 

This would not apply to Chief Officers or Deputies, effectively Strategic Directors and Heads of Service in the new structure. In those cases the Employment and Appointments Committee would continue to be responsible for their appointment and dismissal.  

 

With the permission of the Chair, Joe Taylor, Unison Wirral Branch Secretary, addressed the Cabinet. He stated that the unions were totally opposed to this proposal as this was the last piece of independence for officers within the authority. Previous appeals to Members had found flaws in the way some officers had carried out dismissals of staff.

 

Councillor Phil Davies commented that he agreed with the proposal as managers were paid to manage staff and Councillors should not be involved.

 

On a motion by Councillor Phil Davies, seconded by Councillor McLachlan, it was -

 

Resolved – That Cabinet recommends to Council that:

 

(1)  They delegate to the Chief Executive, as Head of Paid Service, the power to make appropriate arrangements for conducting appeals in connection with gradings, grievances or disciplinary action against or dismissal of employees.

 

(2)  The Chief Executive, as Head of Paid Service, report annually to the Employment and Appointments Committee on the operation of the arrangements for conducting appeals in connection with gradings, grievances or disciplinary action against or dismissal of employees. 

 

(3)  The delegations to the Appeals Sub-Committee to hear and determine appeals in connection with gradings, grievances or disciplinary action against or dismissal of employees, be removed.

Report author: Chief Executive

Publication date: 08/01/2013

Date of decision: 20/12/2012

Decided at meeting: 20/12/2012 - Cabinet

Effective from: 16/01/2013

Accompanying Documents: