Archived decisions
AT A MEETING of the EMPLOYMENT IN HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL COMMITTEE held at The Castle, Winchester on Wednesday, 6 February 2002.
PRESENT:
Councillors T.K. Thornber, CBE (Chairman); A.P. Collett; Mrs. S.M. Glasspool, DL;
P.A. Pierce; W.H. Wheeler.
1 TERMS OF REFERENCE OF COMMITTEE
The Committee considered the report of the Chief Executive (Item 1 in the Minute Book) which set out the background to the establishment of the Committee by the County Council in September 2001 and its terms of reference. The Chief Executive amplified the report and, together with the County Personnel and Training Officer, answered Members' questions.
Whilst accepting that there would need to be some flexibility as matters relating to the exercise of the County Council's function relating to terms and conditions of employment developed under the new arrangements, Members asked, nonetheless, for further guidance on the detail of the powers and responsibilities of the Committee. The Chief Executive and the County Personnel and Training Officer noted carefully Members' comments on areas of perceived uncertainty and undertook to provide a response by letter to facilitate further discussion of the matter at the next meeting.
RESOLVED:
That the report, and the arrangements for further discussion of the terms of reference of the Committee, be noted.
2 UPDATE ON PAY AND BENEFITS PROJECT
The Committee considered the report of the County Personnel and Training Officer (Item 2 in the Minute Book) on progress with the pay and benefits project agreed as part of Employment in Hampshire County Council. During the course of the ensuing discussion it was noted that some members of the Committee had not had the opportunity of receiving the presentation on the project from the County Personnel and Training Officer and the Consultants, William Mercer.
RESOLVED:
(i) That the Committee notes the key stages of the pay and benefits project, and the anticipated timetable for the project.
(ii) That at its next meeting the Committee receives a presentation from the County Personnel and Training Officer and the Consultants, William Mercer.
3 EXCLUSION OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC
RESOLVED:
That by virtue of Paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for consideration of the following items.
4 OVERALL PAY STRATEGY
The Committee considered the confidential report of the County Personnel and Training Officer (Item 4 in the Minute Book) which considered the factors affecting the County Council's ability to recruit and retain staff and in particular reviewed the position of Council salaries in relation to the wider market. Following a detailed discussion and careful examination of the main options available to the County Council in respect of interim pay measures, the Committee supported, in principle, the application of market supplements to areas of difficulty in recruitment and retention, and requested the officers to develop proposals on this basis for further consideration. Accordingly, it was
RESOLVED:
(i) That the Committee notes the continuing difficulty faced by the Council in recruiting and retaining staff.
(ii) That the officers be requested to prepare a report for the next meeting, in the light of the outcome of current national pay talks, based on the principle of the application of market supplements to specific areas of difficulty in recruitment and retention, the report to include a robust analysis of what the County Council is endeavouring to achieve by this method, who would administer the supplements, and their relationship to budgetary issues.
5 A-G SALARY REVIEW
The Committee considered the confidential report of the County Personnel and Training Officer (Item 5 in the Minute Book) which considered the national and local pay data relevant to the annual pay review for staff on Hampshire Grades A-G. A copy of a letter dated 31 January 2002 from the Hampshire County Branch of MPO and GMB on behalf of the Staff Representative Group setting out their proposals for pay from 1 April 2002 (Item 5(a) in the Minute Book) was also circulated.
In respect of Hampshire A-G staff, taking all the issues into account, and having regard to the resources available in the County Council's budget for 2002/03 for the purpose, the Chairman proposed and the Committee agreed a pay offer from 1 April 2002 to be put formally to the Staff Representative Group by the County Personnel and Training Officer.
RESOLVED:
(i) That the Committee confirms its intention to reposition the A-G salaries, taking account of market data and that the agreed offer be made to A-G staff for an increase in pay w.e.f. 1 April 2002.
(ii) That approval be given to an increased level of targeted salary supplements up to the Committee's agreed maximum where the need for this can be demonstrated from salary and recruitment data.
[SUMMARY OF MINUTE CONTAINING CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION]
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