Agenda item

The Human Resources Advisor presented a report to the Committee following a review of a number of HR policies in the light of legislative and policy changes.

The report sought the Committee’s approval for a number of employment policies and procedures, as set out in the report. Five of the proposed policies were amendments to existing policies. Two, the Substance Misuse and Alcohol Policy, and the Domestic Abuse Policy, were entirely new.

It was agreed to consider each of the policies proposed for approval individually.

Loyalty Award Scheme

A motion was proposed and seconded to approve the Loyalty Award Scheme. This motion was carried unanimously.

RESOLVED that the Loyalty Award Scheme be approved.

Travel and Subsistence Policy

The Committee discussed the requirement set out in the policy to produce a ‘VAT receipt’. It was noted that there were occasions when VAT was not applicable, as such no VAT receipt would be available.

The Policy and Reward Team Leader advised that if there was no VAT payable, then a VAT receipt would not be expected. It was suggested that this could be amended in the policy, for clarity.

A motion was proposed and seconded to approve the Travel and Subsistence Policy, subject to the policy being amended to clarify that where VAT was not payable, no VAT receipt would be required. This motion was carried unanimously.

RESOLVED that the Travel and Subsistence Policy be approved, subject to the policy being amended to clarify that where VAT was not payable, no VAT receipt would be required.

Substance Misuse and Alcohol Policy

Following a question from the Committee it was explained that this was a new policy and that a separate policy existed in relation to smoking.

A motion was proposed and seconded to approve the Substance Misuse and Alcohol Policy. This motion was carried unanimously.

RESOLVED that the Substance Misuse and Alcohol Policy be approved.

Domestic Abuse Policy

The wording of the policy, where it referenced ‘violence and abuse against women and girls and domestic and sexual violence against men’ was questioned. It was suggested that this was exclusionary. The Committee noted, however, that the policy stated ‘The Council is committee to tackling all forms of violence and abuse’.

Mark Burns, a Union representative, advised that  following consultation, the trade unions were happy with the proposed wording.

A motion was proposed and seconded to approve the Domestic Abuse Policy. This motion was carried unanimously.

RESOLVED that the Domestic Abuse Policy be approved.

Maternity Scheme

A motion was proposed and seconded to approve the Maternity Scheme. This motion was carried unanimously.

RESOLVED that the Maternity Scheme be approved.

Maternity Scheme for Teachers

In response to a questions from the Committee, the Policy and Reward Team Leader explained that this Scheme varied from the standard Maternity Scheme, as teachers were employed subject to their own terms and conditions, which were set nationally.

The Human Resources Advisor advised that as free schools had the option to employ unqualified teachers the scheme would not apply to those staff.

A motion was proposed and seconded to approve the Maternity Scheme for Teachers. This motion was carried unanimously.

RESOLVED that the Maternity Scheme for Teachers be approved.

Adoption Scheme

In response to a question from the Committee the Policy and Reward Team Leader clarified that the policy identified the different requirements and entitlements in relation to adoptions from overseas and within the United Kingdom. All the payments in the policy were statutory.

The policy also applied where an employee had fostered a child, with the intent to adopt.

A motion was proposed and seconded to approve the Adoption Scheme. This motion was carried unanimously.

RESOLVED that the Adoption Scheme be approved.

Reasons for the decision:

To ensure that the Council operated within legislation including the Children and Families Act 2014.

To move forward with improved Human Resources policies.