JOINT STAFF CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE
Minutes of a meeting of the Joint Staff Consultative Committee held in the Committee
Room, Council Offices, Holt Road, Cromer on 13 June 2011
Members Present:
Mrs S A Arnold
Mrs H Eales
Mr K E Johnson (Chair)
Mr G R Jones
Mrs B McGoun
Staff Side Present:
Mr A Mitchell
Mr P Godwin
Mrs C Lowin-Green
Officers in Attendance:
The Organisational Development Manager and the
Democratic Services Team Leader.
1
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
None received.
2
ELECTION OF CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR
The outgoing Chair, Andy Mitchell, reminded the Committee that the office of Chair of
JSCC alternated each year between Members and UNISON. This year it was the
turn of the Members to appoint a Chair.
RESOLVED
that Councillor Keith Johnson be appointed Chair and Phil Godwin be appointed Vice
Chair for the ensuing year.
After this item Andy Mitchell vacated the chair. Councillor Keith Johnson took the
chair. He thanked Andy for his chairmanship in the past year and encouraged the
Committee to work together in the year ahead so that good decisions would be
made.
The Committee agreed that, since meetings had been re-scheduled to a later time at
the request of someone who was no longer a councillor, JSCC should revert to its
original time of 2.30 pm.
3
MINUTES
The minutes of the meetings of the Joint Staff Consultative Committee held on 10
January 2011 were approved as a correct record.
The Attendance and Authorised Absence Policy had come into force as soon as it
had been approved by Full Council. UNISON asked that, in future, two weeks notice
should be given so that work could be done with staff in advance. The Organisational
Development Manager explained that managers had been briefed but that the
information had not been effectively cascaded down in every case.
4
ITEMS OF URGENT BUSINESS
There was an item of urgent business concerning staff who were being made
redundant. It was urgent because the situation was immediate. It would be taken at
Item 8.
JSCC
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13 June 2011
5
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
None
6
SICKNESS ABSENCE UPDATE
There had been less sickness absence in January/March 2011 than in the same
period in the previous year. Although depression rates appeared to be high in some
months this was due to long term absence, which affected the figures. The
Organisational Development Manager produced an annual analysis of the figures.
This would be distributed to the Committee.
7
UPDATES
The Organisational Development Manager would not give oral updates to this
meeting. She would produce a written report for the meeting on 18 July 2011. This
would include the Pay and Grading Review. Both Members and UNISON wanted to
see the Pay and Grading Review moving forward.
It was noted that, since the last meeting, timesheets had been produced for UNISON
officers to record the time they spent on union-related activities.
Councillor Helen Eales expressed concern about items on the UNISON table in the
Canteen. This could be discussed at a future meeting.
8
REDUNDANCIES
There had recently been some embarrassing situations caused by Members and
staff being unaware that someone was being made redundant. A suggestion was
made from UNISON that it might be helpful if, provided the person concerned gave
consent, there could be greater awareness when someone was leaving. However,
this was not a straightforward issue. Redundancy itself was a sensitive issue and
some people preferred to go quietly, regardless of the reason they were leaving the
Authority. The Organisational Development Manager would reflect on this issue.
In response to a Member’s request, the Organisational Development Manager would
contact the Norfolk Pension Scheme and ask for someone to come and talk to the
Committee at an appropriate time/date to update on changes (when they are
confirmed).
The meeting concluded at 4.15 pm.
_______________
Chairman
JSCC
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13 June 2011