Meeting documents

Employment Committee
Monday, 20th July, 2009 10.00 am

Date:
Monday, 20th July, 2009
Time:
10:00a.m.
Place:
Executive Meeting Room, Town Hall, Reigate
 

Attendance Details

Present:
Councillors Mrs. J.S. Bray, M.A. Brunt, R.C. Newstead and Mrs. J.M.A. Spiers.
Also Present:
None
Substitutes:
Councillor M.A. Brunt
Min NoDescriptionResolution
Part I
1 CONSENT FOR THE MAYOR TO TAKE THE CHAIR
Minute for Minute Number 1
 
2 ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN
 RESOLVED that Councillor R.C. Newstead be elected Chairman of the Committee for the Municipal Year 2009/10.
3 ELECTION OF VICE-CHAIRMAN
RESOLVED that Councillor Mrs. J.S. Bray be elected Vice-Chairman of the Committee for the Municipal Year 2009/10.
4 MINUTES
 RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meetings held on 28th and 30th April 2009 be approved as a correct record and signed.
5 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND SUBSTITUTIONS
 Apology for Absence: Councillor Mrs. R.S. Turner
Substitute Member: Councillor M.A. Brunt
6 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
 None.
7 BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE GRIEVANCE PROCESS
Minute for Minute Number 7
 
8 BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE PENSIONS CONSIDERATION PROCESS
Minute for Minute Number 8
 
9 ANY OTHER URGENT BUSINESS
 None.
10 EXEMPT BUSINESS
 RESOLVED that members of the Press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that:
(i) they involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act; and
(ii) the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information.
Part II(Confidential)
11 REQUEST FOR EARLY PENSION ON COMPASSIONATE GROUNDS
Minute for Minute Number 11
RESOLVED that the request for an early pension on compassionate grounds be refused.
12 GRIEVANCE APPEAL
Minute for Minute Number 12
RESOLVED that the grievance appeal be not upheld.
The meeting closed at 11.36 a.m.

Minute

Min NoMinute
1The Mayor (Councillor R.S. Mantle) was unable to attend the meeting and had given apologies for absence.
7The Committee received a briefing on the Council's grievance process.
8The Committee received a briefing on the policy and procedure for considering requests for early pension on compassionate grounds.
11The Committee received a report on a request by a former employee to an early pension on compassionate grounds. The report set out background information, details relating to the former employee, factors for consideration and resource and legal implications. The Committee considered the request and concluded that compassionate grounds had not been demonstrated in this case. Accordingly, it was
12The Committee considered a grievance appeal by a group of employees that a previous decision not to uphold a Stage 1 grievance was selective and did not fully address the main issues.

In line with the Council's grievance procedure, the Committee was joined by two of the Appellants, their trade union representative, the Director of Resources (on behalf of the Management's side) and his personnel advisor.

Case statements from both the Appellants and the Management side had been submitted and circulated in advance of the meeting.

The Committee was advised of the sequence of the meeting following which the Appellants were invited to present their case. The Committee and Management side were then given an opportunity to ask questions. The Chairman then invited the Management side to present their case, before allowing questions from the Appellants and Committee Members.

Finally, the Chairman invited each party to give their closing statements. Relevant parties, as part of the process, were advised that the Committee's decision would be notified to them in writing within five working days.

The Committee adjourned to deliberate and upon reconvening it was