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Meeting documents

Personnel Partnership

Committee Minutes

Fri Dec 19 2003

Present:-

Councillors Gale (Chairman), Mrs Channon, Greenslade, Hart and Mrs Morrish

Mrs Andrews (Vice Chairman), Mr Franceschini, Mr Naylor-Williams, Mr Rawle and Mr Sudworth.

Mrs Stanhope (Director of Resources) and Mr Cooke (Human Resources)

PP/69 Minutes

The minutes of the meeting held on 13 August 2003 were signed as a correct record subject to discussion on Minute PP/64 regarding the Staff Side rejection of car parking charges (See Minute PP/71).

PP/70 Review of Collective Bargaining Arrangements

The Director of Resources reported on the Executive s resolutions made on 25 November 2003 following its consideration of report DR/03/123 and the meeting noted Executive Minute 596(b):

that the Personnel Partnership meet four times a year in keeping with the revised arrangements and the current constitutional arrangements be varied so as to allow additional/special meeting of the Personnel Partnership to be convened by the Council as is currently the case for the Trade Union Side

AGREED that the opportunity for regular meetings between Employers Side and staff side be welcomed.

PP/71 Green Travel Policy on Car Parking

Staff Side raised concerns in relation to a questionnaire being prepared to progress the Green Travel Plan to be sent to County Hall staff only. It was felt that all County Council staff should be sent the questionnaire and that all staff should be asked whether they want to pay for parking at their place of work, not just be asked how much. Concern was also expressed at the change in the Green Travel Team leader from a Property officer to an officer from Human Resources.

The Director of Resources reported that it was not felt appropriate for all staff to be sent a questionnaire relating specifically to staff in Exeter and confirmed that the questionnaire would be sent to all staff in County Hall, Great Moor House and other DCC offices in Exeter who would be reabsorbed into County Hall in future. County Council Members supported this view. On the wording of the questionnaire the Director of Resources reminded Staff Side that the relevant question about how much they would be prepared to pay for car parking included the phrase if the charge is introduced and therefore was against making any changes to the wording of the question. On the change of Team Leader, the Director of Resources felt that a Human Resource officer was appropriate for the Leader and reminded Staff Side that there was still a Property officer on the Team.

The Staff Side concluded by reiterating their statement that its Members rejected car parking charges.


PP/72 Budget Setting and Local Government Taxation Issues

The Staff Side wished to offer the Employers Side maximum support in its efforts to get its message about the real facts surrounding Council Tax issues across to the general public.

AGREED that Staff Side colleagues investigate the possibility of responding to misleading criticism in the local media, possibly with the help of the County Council s Press Office.

PP/73 ODPM Consultation on Local Government Pensions Scheme

The Staff Side welcomed the opportunity to make a joint response to this consultation from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and distributed a list of eight comments on the discussion paper.

Members welcomed the list of Staff Side Comments and AGREED to append the list to the Employers Side response to be considered by the Executive at its meeting on 5 January 2004.

PP/74 Single Status Issues

The Members and Employers Side noted with regret that the Staff Side had been mandated by staff to withdraw from the job evaluation process.

PP/75 Property Partnership Proposals

The Staff Side reported that the Devon Property staff wished to remain in the employment of the County Council and noted with concern that the two options for the future of the service involved outsourcing models and implied externalisation of staff. It was also felt that (a) there was not enough time for proper consultation given that the final report was scheduled for presentation to Executive on 20 January 2004 (b) that the Scrutiny process should be involved (c) that Staff Side should see a copy of the report when finalised.

The Director of Resources reminded Members of the outcome of the Best Value Review of the Property Service, especially the 3rd part of the Review which recommended seeking a strategic partner. The result of those investigations were the two options of (a) a joint venture or (b) a partnering contract, and that both options would require moving staff to a private partner. The legal implications of seconding staff rather than transferring staff to a private partner were currently under consideration although in either case the terms and conditions of staff would be protected under TUPE regulations. Scrutiny have been involved through the Property Task Group who considered the outline proposals and it was on the Task Group s instigation that a Seminar for all Members of the County Council would take place on the morning of 15 January 2004. Property staff would be welcome to attend the Seminar and be assured that there were further opportunities for consultation on the proposals.

PP/76 Calendar of Meetings

AGREED that the Chief Executive consult with Staff and Employer s Side to find suitable dates for the next 4 Personnel Partnership meetings in 2004.

[Note : these minutes are subject to staff side comments]

The meeting started at 10.30am and finished at 12.45pm

The Minutes of this Committee are published on the County Council's Website at:-

Date Published: Thu Oct 27 2011

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