Agenda and minutes

Cllr J Ward

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 16 November 2018 as a correct record.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 16 November 2018 be signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

To note any declarations of interest made by members in connection with an agenda item.  The nature of the interest must also be specified.

Members are asked to discuss any possible interests with Democratic Services prior to the meeting.

No declarations of interest were made by members in connection with an agenda item.

To note any issues raised during the public participation period.

No issues were raised during the public participation period.

To recommend to the Council that the Pay Policy Statement 2019-20 be approved.

The Committee considered the proposed Pay Policy Statement for 2019/20.

RECOMMENDED:

That the Pay Policy Statement 2019/20 as set out in Appendix 1 to these minutes be approved.

To receive an overview of the current issues to be taken into account when reviewing and considering pay discussions for 2019.

The Committee considered the basis of the Council’s local pay arrangements proposed to take effect from 1 April 2019.

The two main proposals were a minimum hourly rate of £9, which would mean that spinal column point 12 would be discontinued and a 2% cost of living rise to all other grades.

A bench marking exercise had been carried out of bands 1-7.  Bands 2-7 had fallen behind the market median.  Some positions, in housing maintenance (electricians / plumbers) for example, did not fit well into the pay bands and needed to be reviewed.

There was a difference of opinion between the Council and Unison in relation to the nationally agreed bottom loaded two year cost of living award.  It was noted that the National Joint Council for Local Government Services (NJC) spinal points did not match the Council’s and therefore it was not possible to compare the spinal points.  The Council believed that the minimum hourly rate of £9 mirrored the NJC lowest rate.

Members expressed concern regarding the objection received by Unison and the fact that it was claimed that some staff had felt undervalued by the proposals.  Members felt that the Council should at least be on a par with the NJC pay award.  It was however noted that from 1 April 2019, pay scales 1-4 would progress in increments of 3%, whereas the NJC spine points increase was only 2%. 

Members acknowledged and supported the proposed review of pay to be carried out in 2019.  They were keen for this work to commence.

The cost to the Council on both agency and recruitment spend was discussed.  The Council had spent nearly £853k on agency staff during the 12 month period (October 2017 to September 2018), the largest agency spend was in Housing Maintenance and Refuse.  12% of vacancies advertised between January to October 2018 had not been filled the first time.  The Committee expressed concern regarding the cost to the Council on both recruitment and agency staff. 

It was suggested that a Task and Finish Group be established to consider the reasons behind the expenditure on agency staff and the difficulties found in recruiting to particular positions.  It was understood that the use of some agency staff in particular areas was necessary, for example, waste services to cover sickness.  It was also acknowledged that some work may be considered not suitable for permanent staff, and that agency staff could offer the best value for money in specific circumstances.   It was agreed that a further report be presented to the Committee at the next meeting which would provide a more detailed breakdown of the statistics behind recruitment and agency spend, together with an analysis of the reasons behind the statistics.  The Committee would then consider the merits of whether a Task and Finish Group should be established and the scope of any possible group.

RESOLVED:

(a)  That the proposals for pay from 1 April 2019, as summarised in paragraph 4 of the report, together with the employee  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23.

To consider the Returning Officers’ Fees and Expenses for 2019/20.

The Committee considered the fees and expenses for Returning Officers in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight to conduct local elections.  These were recommended by a Working Party of representatives of Hampshire County Council and other Local Authorities in the area.

RESOLVED:

That the fees and expenses for Returning Officers for 2019/20, as set in Appendix 3 to these minutes, be approved.

The Chairman provided an update to the Committee on the following items:

Gambling Act 2006 Policy revision: The Council’s Licensing Policy was under review and the revised policy would be considered by the General Purposes and Licensing Committee, prior to the mandatory public consultation. It would include minor changes and additions released by the Gambling Commission during the past three years, together with a refresh of the formatting, in line with other Policies issued within the Environmental and Regulation Service.

Following the consultation, suggestions and comments would considered by the Committee, prior to seeking Full Council approval.

Draft Taxi Statutory guidance from Department for Transport (DfT):  A Government Task and Finish group had reviewed the current taxi and private hire industry to consider improvements to better protect the public who use those vehicles. The working party had made 34 recommendations to the Government with a view to providing greater consistency across authorities that licence drivers and vehicles. The recommendations also sought to improve safety for the public and suggested measures to provide greater protection for customers.

New draft statutory guidance for licensing authorities had been produced and was under public consultation.  The deadline for responses was 22 April 2019.  The guidance provided an opportunity to apply consistency whilst raising standards, providing greater protection for the public and improving the customer experience.

The documents and online survey could be viewed online at :

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/taxi-and-private-hire-vehicle-licensing-protecting-users

Safeguarding driver awareness training:  Members of the General Purposes and Licensing Committee agreed in 2017 to introduce a Driver Knowledge Test for new drivers, which included a module on the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults.   Members had also added support for future roll-out of safeguarding training for existing drivers.

Members would be presented with a revised safeguarding package to approve for new and existing drivers at the next meeting.