Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor D Flude.

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

No declarations of interest were made.

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 21 October 2010

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 21 October 2010 be confirmed as a correct record.

To receive a report on the contents of the Pre Budget Report and comments on the proposals in terms of how their impact can be managed.

The Borough Treasurer presented a report on the Pre Budget Report 2011/2012. 

The Pre Budget Report set out the changes that would be made to the revenue and capital budgets to enable a balanced budget to be set. The Report would be used as the basis of an engagement exercise in January and February 2011. 

The Council was facing financial pressures arising from the reduced funding from Government; demographic changes leading to increased service requirements; higher numbers of young people needing protection; impact of severe winters on the road network; and in year spending pressures.

The Key Proposals contained in the Pre-Budget report were:

• No Council Tax Increase
• A Revised Council Tax Base
• Adults – overall budget increasing to recognise £9.8m of growth pressure
• Children and Families – Overall budget increasing to recognise £0.1m of growth pressures
• Places – Overall budget decreasing by £3.7m
• Supporting Service Delivery & Cross Directorate Savings – Decreasing Budget by £11.1m
• No Proposed Supplementary Business Rates being levied in 2011/2012
• Income from charges for Council services to increase in line with inflation
• Council borrowing estimated at £23m

The Trade Union representatives raised a number of points for discussion, including the proposal not to increase the Council Tax and the Government £4.4m funding offer; National No-Domestic Rates allocation; earmarking of reserves for future voluntary redundancies and the % of money put into reserves; and the budget allocated for SEN provision.

RESOLVED:

That the Pre-Budget Report be noted.

To consider a report on the progress with Human Resource issues

The Head of Human Resources and Organisation Development, aided by the HR Strategy & Policy Manager, Corporate Health & Safety Manager and Workforce Development & Capacity Manager, presented a report which provided a general update on Human Resource issues, including Health & Safety, Organisational Development, HR Delivery and HR Policy and Reward.

Phase 1 of implementing PRIME had been successfully completed and work had now begun on Phase 2 delivery to schools staff.  It was anticipated that all services and schools would be using the electronic system by the end of March 2011.

Hearing tests of Waste and Recycling Operatives commenced in November last year and a member of the Corporate Health & Safety Team had been trained by Occupational Health to undertake audiometric tests to continue this programme in Macclesfield.  Occupational Health Nurses would continue to deliver this service to Operatives in Crewe until a second Corporate Health & Safety Officer was trained.  The Occupational Health Nurse had undertaken 20 hearing tests to date and so far no results had shown that any operative had experienced work related hearing loss.  Personal protective equipment was being sourced which would filter out high frequency noise whilst still enabling Operatives to hear passing traffic.

A new Violence at Work Policy had been drafted, which included guidance for employees when working either with known or potentially violent persons and incorporated the use of the Potentially Violent and Aggressive Persons database, which contained information on known violent or aggressive persons and dangerous dogs (or other animals).  The Committee was asked to approve the draft policy, which had been forwarded to Trade Union Representatives for comment and agreement at the Corporate Health & Safety Forum in February 2011.

As part of the process for the Council to retain Investors in People (IIP) recognition, a series of informal health-checks were being undertaken ahead of the formal corporate assessment in May 2011.  One area the IIP had highlighted was the need to ensure there was a common understanding regarding the role of a Cheshire East manager and the skills, knowledge and behaviours that were required to undertake this role effectively.  To support this role the Employee Development Charter was being re-launched and an ‘aspiring leaders’ competency framework and on-line toolkit was being created. 

Work was continuing to address equal pay issues and develop a set of modern, flexible and affordable terms and conditions of employment for the Council.  An initial proposal for new terms and conditions had been made to the trade unions in December and consultation was ongoing.  Further consultation with the wider workforce would follow over the coming months.  It was anticipated that the new pay structure and terms and conditions would come into effect on 1 September 2011.  A new employee newsletter ‘Fit for the Future’ had been created and would be issues on as an and when basis to ensure that all employees were kept up to date and included in the consultation process about the review. 

RESOLVED:  That

(1)       the report be noted.

(2)  ...  view the full minutes text for item 26.

To consider a report on the progress with the Council’s Five Year People and Organisational Development (OD) Strategy (2010 – 2015).

The HR Strategy and Policy Manager presented a report on the progress with the Council’s Five Year People and Organisational Development (OD) Strategy (2010-2015).

In January 2010 the first comprehensive five year People and OD Strategy for Cheshire East Council had been developed and endorsed by Members and Trade Unions.  The Strategy was developed to enable the Council to address both national and local people priorities and to enable employees to plan for, manage and deliver services to meet the changing needs, priorities and expectations of communities.  The People and OD Strategy linked closely with the Council’s Workforce Development Planning framework. 

The report received listed the achievements and future priorities for each of the key themes: - Staff, Style, Strategy, Skills, Systems and Structures.

Over the next 12 months, HR activities and projects would build on the success of the strategy so far and ensure that the Council continued to have a strong strategic focus and approach to workforce issues.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

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 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.

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 of the Local Government Act 1972 and public interest would not be served in publishing this information.

To approve the confidential minutes of the meeting held on 21 October 2010

RESOLVED:

That the confidential minutes of the meeting held on 21 October 2010 be confirmed as a correct record.

• Continuation of the Voluntary Redundancy Scheme post April 2011
• Budget Consultation - Council Tax

The Trade Union representatives raised issues relating to the following matters:

• Continuation of the Voluntary Redundancy Scheme Post April 2011
• Budget Consultation – Council Tax