Contact: Dave Wilson, ext 7407

1. Introduction

1.1 This report reviews the appointments of the employee and pensioner representatives to this Panel. It concludes that the current arrangements continue to work well, and recommends that the current appointments remain in place until March 2006.

2. The employee and pensioner representatives

2.1 Derek Offord and E. W. Hughes were appointed as employee and pensioner representatives respectively with effect from April 1994. Derek Offord was nominated by UNISON following a consultation with the staff side unions. All pensioners were invited to apply for the pensioner representative post. E. W. Hughes was appointed following interview by the Panel. No fixed maximum period of appointment was set.

2.2 In April 2000, following a request from Derek Offord, the Panel appointed a deputy employee representative, Phillip Reynolds, who was also nominated by UNISON.

2.3 Since the original appointments in 1994, these arrangements have been reviewed twice. The Panel's last review took place in July 2002, at which it was agreed that the appointments should be extended until March 2004.

2.4 The arrangements continue to work well. Accordingly, the County Treasurer has discussed with all three representatives the possibility of a further extension of their appointments to March 2006. All are happy to continue, although Derek Offord indicated that he would be likely to stand down then and hand over to Phillip Reynolds. Phillip Reynolds has since confirmed that he would be happy to take over as the main representative then.

2.5 There seems to be no reason to alter the current arrangements. The Panel may feel it appropriate to retain them until March 2006.

Recommendation

1 That the appointments of E. W. Hughes, pensioner representative, Derek Offord, employee representative, and Phillip Reynolds, deputy employee representative, be extended to March 2006.

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:

Published works.

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

TITLE FILE

None.