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.  Human Resources Policy Update (including revised Disciplinary Policy and Procedure)

Minute 7 and the report to the Transformation and Resources Policy and Performance Committee (15 July, 2015) are attached and the Council is recommended to approve the revised Disciplinary Policy and Procedure.

B.  Capital Monitoring 2015/16 – Quarter 1 (April – June 2015)

Minute 41 and the report to Cabinet (27 July, 2015) are attached and the Council is recommended to approve the revised capital programme of £61.5 million.

C.  Revenue Monitoring 2015/16 – Quarter 1 (April – June 2015)

Minute 42 and the report to Cabinet (27 July, 2015) are attached and the Council is recommended to approve the amended revenue budget 2015/16.

D.  Children and Young People’s Department – New Capital Schemes 2015-16 to 2017-18

Minute 51 and the report to Cabinet (10 September, 2015) are attached and the Council is recommended to approve the new capital schemes’ inclusion within the overall Capital Programme.

E.  Attendance Management Policy

Minute 15 and the report to the Transformation and Resources Policy and Performance Committee (21 September, 2015) are attached and the Council is recommended to approve the revised Attendance Management Policy and Procedure.

In accordance with Standing Order 5(2), five matters were submitted for approval by the Council (see minutes 48 to 52 post).

The Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development reported upon proposed changes to the Council’s Disciplinary Policy and Procedure following a review and also outlined details of new legislation in relation to shared parental leave which had been incorporated into Council policies.

The Council had to operate a fair and legally compliant Disciplinary Process. The policy and procedure had been reviewed to ensure the Council’s processes continued to comply with ACAS Codes of Practice and were consistent with policies in place in other Local Authorities and large organisations (best practice). A range of changes had been proposed to the policy and procedures on this basis and the report gave details of the key changes.

A copy of the proposed revised Disciplinary Policy and Procedure was appended to the report. Trade Unions had been formally consulted on the proposed revisions and they retained their objection to the decision taken by Council in January 2013 to delegate employment appeals (including Disciplinary Appeals) to the Chief Executive.

With regard to Parental Leave, in April 2015, new legislation had come into place which introduced Shared Parental Leave. This enabled eligible mothers, fathers, partners and adopters to choose how to share time off work after their child was born or placed for adoption. The Council had implemented shared parental leave as part of the existing policy framework. Guidance and FAQs had been developed and would be available on the Council’s intranet.

A Member suggested that the non-completion of Performance Appraisals by managers could be termed a matter of misconduct.

Members referred to a letter circulated at the meeting from UNISON, which referred to a quarterly report from the Chief Executive on the operation of the arrangements for conducting employment appeals and the lack of such reports being produced following the removal of this function from the Appeals Sub-Committee of the Employment and Appointments Committee in January, 2013.

The Head of Legal and Member Services commented that he would look into the matter raised and ascertain what exactly Council did resolve in January 2013, although the remit and scope of the Employment and Appointments Committee had changed following revisions to the Council Constitution in 2013. He would circulate an advice note once the issue had been looked into.

A Member suggested that with the change in remit of the Employment and Appointments Committee a report should have been produced and circulated to a Policy and Performance Committee as Members should have oversight of disciplinary issues. Members reiterated their concerns if no reports on the outcomes / operation of the appeals process had been produced.

The Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development commented that the right to an employment appeal against dismissal, a disciplinary warning or for a grievance was a fundamental right and that all such appeals below Chief Officer level were delegated through the Chief Executive to Strategic Directors with two Heads of Service. She stated that she had only received a copy of the letter from UNISON just before the meeting and that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7