Issue - meetings
Update of HR Policies
Meeting: 20/10/2014 - Council (Item 42)
42 MATTERS REQUIRING APPROVAL BY THE COUNCIL PDF 43 KB
To consider any recommendations of the Leader, Cabinet, Cabinet Member and Committees which require the approval of the Council. The relevant minutes are attached; copies of the related reports can be provided for Council members on request.
A. Cabinet – 11 September, 2014
Minute 51 – Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment
The Council is requested to: (i) approve the findings of the Merseyside and West Lancashire Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment being used to inform the content of the Council’s emerging Core Strategy Local Plan and subsequent site-specific Local Plan; and (ii) that the Merseyside and West Lancashire Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment be approved as a material consideration for use by Planning Committee in the determination of planning applications.
B. Audit and Risk Management Committee – 17 September, 2014
Minute 30 – Update of HR Policies
The Council is requested to approve the Dignity at Work procedure and the Council’s Grievance Policy (The report and accompanying documents are attached)
C. Matters referred to the Council by Cabinet at its meeting on 9 October, 2014 (minutes relating to these matters will be circulated with the supplement):
· Minute 67 - Wirral Climate Change Strategy 2014-19 (The minute, report and Strategy are attached)
· Minute 68 - Street Lighting Strategy and Action Plan 2014 (The minute and report are attached)
· Minute 70 - Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 Update and Proposed Amendments to the Scheme of Delegation to Officers (The minute, report and appendix 2 are attached)
· Minute 71 - Revision of Constitution Arrangements for Wirral Partnership Homes Trading as Magenta Living to Enable a Proposed Group Structure (The minute, report and appendix are attached)
Additional documents:
- Audit and Risk Mgmt Cttee Minute 30, item 42 PDF 52 KB
- Update of HR Policies - Report, 17/09/2014 Audit and Risk Management Committee, item 42 PDF 80 KB
- Appendix 1 - Communications and Training Plan, 17/09/2014 Audit and Risk Management Committee, item 42 PDF 53 KB
- Hr Policies - Appendix 2 Dignity at Work Policy FV, item 42 PDF 267 KB
- Appendix 2ii - Dignity at Work Procedure, 17/09/2014 Audit and Risk Management Committee, item 42 PDF 170 KB
- Appendix 2iii - Managers Guide to Dignity at Work, 17/09/2014 Audit and Risk Management Committee, item 42 PDF 195 KB
- Appendix 2iv - Guidance on Mediation, 17/09/2014 Audit and Risk Management Committee, item 42 PDF 143 KB
- Appendix 2v - Dignity at Work Advisors, 17/09/2014 Audit and Risk Management Committee, item 42 PDF 42 KB
- Appendix 3 - Updated Whistleblowing Policy, 17/09/2014 Audit and Risk Management Committee, item 42 PDF 91 KB
- Appendix 4 - Updated Grievance Policy and Procedure, 17/09/2014 Audit and Risk Management Committee, item 42 PDF 349 KB
- Cabinet Min 67, item 42 PDF 39 KB
- WirralClimateChangeStrategyReport, 09/10/2014 Cabinet, item 42 PDF 97 KB
- WirralClimateChangeStrategyAppendix, 09/10/2014 Cabinet, item 42 PDF 484 KB
- Cabinet Min 68, item 42 PDF 40 KB
- Street Lighting Strategy Report, 09/10/2014 Cabinet, item 42 PDF 72 KB
- Cabinet Min 70, item 42 PDF 40 KB
- Scheme of Delegation - ASB Crime Policing Act 2014, 09/10/2014 Cabinet, item 42 PDF 75 KB
- Appendix 2 - Proposed amendments to Scheme of Delegation, 09/10/2014 Cabinet, item 42 PDF 102 KB
- Cabinet Min 71, item 42 PDF 38 KB
- Magenta Group Structure Report, 09/10/2014 Cabinet, item 42 PDF 103 KB
- Appendix 1 Heads of Terms, 09/10/2014 Cabinet, item 42 PDF 505 KB
Minutes:
In accordance with Standing Order 5(2), six matters were submitted for approval by the Council (see minutes 43 to 48 post).
Meeting: 17/09/2014 - Audit and Risk Management Committee (Item 30)
30 Update of HR Policies PDF 80 KB
Additional documents:
- Appendix 1 - Communications and Training Plan, item 30 PDF 52 KB
- Appendix 2i - Dignity at Work Policy, item 30 PDF 267 KB
- Appendix 2ii - Dignity at Work Procedure, item 30 PDF 170 KB
- Appendix 2iii - Managers Guide to Dignity at Work, item 30 PDF 195 KB
- Appendix 2iv - Guidance on Mediation, item 30 PDF 143 KB
- Appendix 2v - Dignity at Work Advisors, item 30 PDF 42 KB
- Appendix 3 - Updated Whistleblowing Policy, item 30 PDF 91 KB
- Appendix 4 - Updated Grievance Policy and Procedure, item 30 PDF 348 KB
Minutes:
The Head of Human Resources presented the report of the Strategic Director of Transformation and Resources, which advised that the Council’s Human Resources (HR) Policies were subject to ongoing review to ensure they remained fit for purpose, legally compliant and provided a valuable and workable resource for employees and managers on employment related issues in the workplace. She indicated that, as part of the new intranet site, implemented in January 2014, a number of key policy documents were refreshed and formatted and an opportunity had also been taken to update and rationalise the information under the People section of the site to enhance it as a more user friendly resource.
The report provided details of the following new and revised HR Policies for consideration –
· New Dignity at Work procedure and supporting documents
· Details of changes to Grievance Policy and Procedure
· Details of legal updates to Whistleblowing policy
The policies had clear links and had been reviewed as a suite, although the most significant work had been undertaken around Dignity at Work, which was a new policy. She commented that the Annual Governance Statement 2013/2014 stated, in relation to risk management, that further actions were required to embed policies for confidential reporting and grievances and the report set out the communication and training plan to ensure that all managers and employees understood the requirements of the policies and what their roles and responsibilities were in their delivery
In response to a question from a Member in relation to the involvement of trade unions in the formulation of HR policies, the Head of Human Resources confirmed that, although their agreement was not required, the trades unions had been consulted on all policies. There remained an outstanding, unresolved area of disagreement in relation to the procedure for employment appeals, insofar as it no longer provided a mechanism for a panel of elected Members to determine such appeals, which were now heard by an officer. In response to a further question as to whether the unions were in agreement with other HR policies, she confirmed that their objection was as indicated, and was more in relation to principle than practice.
The Liberal Democrat spokesperson referred to the Whistleblowing Policy, which stated that protection would be given to whistleblowers against victimisation. However, in its definition of victimisation, the Dignity at Work Policy appeared to imply that such protection would only be afforded to persons who had acted ‘in good faith’ and he questioned how such a determination would be made.
Following a brief adjournment, the Head of Human Resources indicated that she had reviewed the wording in the Policy and proposed an amendment for Members consideration.
Resolved –
(1) That, subject to the amendment now reported, and to it being circulated to Members, the Dignity at Work procedure and supporting documents be recommended to the Council, for approval.
(2) That the proposed amendments to the Council’s Grievance Policy be recommended to the Council for approval.
(3) That the changes to the Whistleblowing Policy be ... view the full minutes text for item 30