Agenda and minutes

To provide an opportunity for Members and Officers to declare any personal and/or prejudicial interests in any item on the agenda

No interests were declared.

In accordance with Procedure Rules Nos.11 and 35 a period of 10 minutes is allocated for members of the public to address the meeting on any matter relevant to the work of the meeting. Individual members of the public may speak for up to 5 minutes but the Chairman will decide how the period of time allocated for public speaking will be apportioned where there are a number of speakers. Members of the public are not required to give notice to use this facility. However, as a matter of courtesy, a period of 24 hours’ notice is encouraged.

Members of the public wishing to ask a question at the meeting should provide three clear working days’ notice, in writing, in order for an informed answer to be given.

There were no members of the public present.

To consider a report on the proposal to extend for 12 months the Council’s Detriment Scheme.

The Cabinet Member for Procurement, Assets and Shared Services considered a report on the proposal to extend for 12 months the Council’s Detriment Scheme.

It was originally anticipated that all new structures would be in place in the first year of the new Council; this had not happened. The Council was continuing to implement its new structures and there was a continuing need to compensate employees who would be overall financially worse off as a result of accepting a new job on Cheshire East terms and conditions of employment. 

Employees in those service areas that were still restructuring as a result of LGR would be disadvantaged by the removal of the  scheme as they would not be able to claim the same entitlements as colleagues who had been appointed to new jobs prior to the 31^st March 2010.  

RESOLVED

That the Detriment Scheme be extended for 12 months until the 31 March 2011, enabling Departments/Services to finalise and implement their new structures without disadvantaging employees. 

To consider a report on a change to the Discretion relating to Regulation 30 of the Local Government Pension Scheme.

The Cabinet Member for Procurement, Assets and Shared Services considered a report on a change to the Discretion relating to Regulation 30 of the Local Government Pension Scheme.

RESOLVED

That subject to costs being less than £1 million in any particular year:

(1)   the Discretion relating to Regulation 30 of the Local Government Pension Scheme be changed to allow the early release of pension to employees where there are associated efficiencies which are considered to be in the Council’s interest; and

(2)   the Discretion under Regulation 30 of the LGPS be as follows:

Policy for Active Members – Early release of pension to an active employee will only be approved where the Council is satisfied that such release represents value for money, or is on compassionate grounds.  The Council will release benefits on compassionate grounds in full for active members.

Policy for Deferred Members – Early release of pension to a former employee will only be approved where the Council is satisfied that such release is on compassionate grounds

To consider a report which proposes an amendment to the Retirement and Severance Policy to exclude people from re-employment who have previously been granted voluntary severance.

The Cabinet Member for Procurement, Assets and Shared Services considered a proposal to amend the Retirement and Severance Policy to exclude people from re-employment who had previously been granted voluntary severance.

RESOLVED

That

(1)   the Redundancy and Severance Policy be amended to state that former employees of the Council or legacy Councils who left their employ on the grounds of voluntary retirement / severance terms will not be reappointed or re-engaged by the Council in any role except in truly exceptional circumstances, which will be subject to the agreement of the Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development; and

(2)   the Redundancy and Severance Policy state that reappointment and re-engagement includes all types of contractual relationships whether it is a permanent contract of employment or service, whether the individual is appointed as an employee or engaged as an interim, direct consultancy or via an agency or other supplier.