Archived decisions

At a meeting of the EMPLOYMENT in HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL COMMITTEE HELD at THE CASTLE, WINCHESTER on FRIDAY

10 NOVEMBER 2006

Present:

Councillors:

Councillor J. K. Glen, Executive Member for Human Resources, attended with the agreement of the Chairman

56. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Members were mindful that, where they believed they had a personal or personal prejudicial interest in any matter to be considered at the meeting, they should normally, at the time of the debate, declare their interest and having regard to the circumstances described in paragraphs 9, 10, 11 and 12 of the County Council's Code of Conduct, consider whether to leave the meeting whilst the matter was discussed.

57. MINUTES

The minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 20 September 2006 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

58. CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

There were no communications from the Chairman.

59. DEPUTATIONS

There were no deputations.

60. FLEXIBLE RETIREMENT POLICY FOR NON-TEACHING STAFF

The Committee considered the report of the County Treasurer and Director of Human Resources (Item 6 in the Minute Book) proposing a flexible retirement policy for non-teaching staff, a new retirement category introduced as a result of changes to the Local Government Pension Scheme with effect from 1 April 2006.

a) that the County Council's flexible retirement policy be as follows:

Taking account of costs and other considerations:

· All requests for flexible retirement will be considered

· Approval will only be given if it is in the County Council's interests to do so.

· A request should typically involve a reduction in salary of 40 per cent either through reduced hours or level of responsibility (grade).

· The County Council will not provide replacement employment for the reduction in pay.

· All costs falling on the County Council as an employer must be affordable and within existing cash limits.

· The waiving of pension benefit reductions will only be considered in exceptional circumstances.

· Flexible retirements will be approved by:

(i) For all Chief Officers and HM Grades where there is either a Pension Fund strain charge or exceptionally the salary reduction is less than 35%, the Executive Member for Policy and Resources.

(ii) In other cases where there is a Pension Fund strain charge or exceptionally the salary reduction is less than 35%, the relevant Chief Officer and the County Treasurer and the Director of Human Resources.

(iii) In all other cases the relevant Chief Officer.

b) that the discretionary pension statement set out in the Appendix to the report of the County Treasurer and Director of Human Resources be approved for publication;

c) that the Trades Unions be advised of the policy.

61. EARLY RETIRMENT POLICIES FOR NON-TEACHING STAFF

The Committee considered the report of the County Treasurer and Director of Human Resources (Item 7 in the Minute Book) and their supplementary report which was circulated at the meeting (Item 7a in the Minute Book) concerning early retirement policies for non-teaching staff. The supplementary report followed the publication on 8 November 2006 by the DCLG of new compensation regulations and explained that the regulations did not impact on the policy approved by the Committee in September 2006. Accordingly no action was required by the Committee.

62. EXCLUSION OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC

RESOLVED:

That the public be excluded from the meeting as it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the public were present during the following item there would be disclosure to them of exempt information within paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, and further that, in all the circumstances, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the County Council as holder of that information) for the reasons set out in the report (Item 9 in the Minute Book).

63. REVIEW OF SENIOR MANAGEMENT PAY

(SUMMARY OF EXEMPT MINUTE)

The Committee considered and approved the exempt report of the Chief Executive and Director of Human Resources (Item 9 in the Minute Book) containing revised management arrangements to support the recruitment and retention of senior managers. The framework applied only to staff falling within level 16 in the new pay framework and then only in what would be limited, specific and exceptional circumstances. All proposals would be considered by the Chief Executive, County Treasurer and Director of Human Resources with reports subsequently to a members group comprising the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Committee and a member of the majority minority party (Councillor B. D. Dash was so appointed), the members being authorised to make decisions within the approved policy.