Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor F Keegan.

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

Councillor D Flude declared a personal interest, being a retired member of Unison.

In accordance with Procedure Rules Nos.11 and 35 a total period of 10 minutes is allocated for members of the public to address the Committee on any matter relevant to the work of the Committee.

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 should provide 3 clear working days notice, in writing, if they wish to ask a question at the meeting, in order for an informed answer to be given. It is not required to give notice of the intention to make use of public speaking provision, however, as a matter of courtesy, a period of 24 hours notice is encouraged.

There were no members of the public present.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 22 October 2009 as a correct record.

That the minutes of the meeting held on 22 October 2009 be approved as a correct record.

To consider a report on the progress with Human Resource Issues.

The Head of Human Resources & Organisational Development, aided by the Health and Safety Officer and the Workforce Development & Capacity Manager, presented a report which provided a general update on Human Resource issues, including Health and Safety, Organisational Development, Organisational Transformation and Organisational Development Strategy. 

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

To consider a report on the draft Trade Union Recognition, Facilities and Time off Agreement with a view to reaching agreement.

The Head of Human Resources & Organisational Development presented a report on Trade Union Recognition, Facilities and Time Off Agreement.

The requirement for a Collective Agreement on Trade Union Recognition, Time Off and Facilities was governed by the legislation.  Following the creation of Cheshire East Council on 1 April 2009, legacy arrangements from the four previous authorities had remained in place.  A new Agreement for Cheshire East had now been drafted, which was proposed should come into effect from 1 April 2010.

The Agreement would provide framework arrangements between the Council and the recognised trade unions, and provide mangers, trade union representative and Members with clear guidelines under which requests for time off for trade union duties, activities and facilities would be determined.

The Unions raised a number of issues for clarification and it was agreed that these would be discussed with officers outside of the meeting.

RESOLVED:

That the content of the Trade Union Recognition, Facilities and Time Off Agreement be agreed.

To consider a report on the proposals in the Pre Budget Report.

The Committee received a report outlining the consultation process on the budgetary and capital proposals for the next three years, which would be published in the first Cheshire East Pre-Budget Report. 

It had been hoped that the Pre-Budget Report would have been published in time for this meeting so that the proposals could be shared with the Trade Unions and their comments received.  

The Pre-Budget Report would be published on 8 January and it was agreed that the Report would be discussed at the Corporate Trade Union meeting on 20 January 2010. 

RESOLVED:

That the report be received and consultation on the Pre Budget Report take place with the Trade Unions at the Corporate Trade Union meeting on
20 January 2010.

The reports relating to the remaining items on the agenda have been withheld from public circulation and deposit pursuant to Section 100(B)(2) of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that the matters may be determined with the press and public excluded.

The Committee may decide that the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items pursuant to Section 100(A)4 of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1 and 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 and public interest would not be served in publishing the information.

RESOLVED:

That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items pursuant to Section 100(A)4 of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that they involved the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 4 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 and public interest would not be served in publishing the information.

To approve the confidential minutes of the meeting held on 22 October 2009 as a correct record.

RESOLVED:

That the confidential minutes of the meeting held on 22 October 2009 be approved as a correct record.

Voluntary Redundancy

The Trade Unions representatives raised issues relating to the following matter:

Voluntary Redundnacy