Contact: Michael Sherwood - Ext: 7332

1. As this is the first meeting of the Employment in Hampshire County Council Committee, it is appropriate to remind Members of the background to the establishment of the Committee by the County Council in September 2001, and its terms of reference.

2. Members will recall from the September report to Council that under Paragraph 37 of the Local Authorities (Functions and Responsibilities) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2001 the power to determine the terms and conditions on which staff hold office is a function which the Executive cannot exercise. Accordingly the County Council established a small committee of seven senior Members (4:2:1), with the appropriate decision making powers. The terms of reference for the Committee are "to determine the terms and conditions of service for staff employed by Hampshire County Council, including procedures for their dismissal".

3. The Constitution provides (Part 2 Paragraph 3) that "unless a function, power or responsibility is specifically reserved to the Council or a committee" the appropriate member of the Executive is authorised to act. The terms of reference of this committee are very specific and all other aspects of the personnel function remain with the Leader who is responsible for:-

_ overall strategy, policy and coordination of personnel


_ the strategic direction and utilisation of personnel resources


_ issues relating to pay and remuneration within the terms and conditions agreed by this committee i.e. of a more detailed nature within the agreed policy where a chief officer's delegated authority may not be sufficient, e.g. issues arising within a Workforce Plan which may involve significant resource commitments


_ all other personnel policies

RECOMMENDATION

That the report be noted.

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - background papers

The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

NB the list excludes:

1 Published works.

2 Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.

5hR10102