6)Contact: Jou Pyke

Direct Dial: 01934 634911

E-mail: joanna.pyke@n-somerset.gov.uk

Date: 23rd May 2003

Dear Sir or Madam

Employment Committee

Tuesday 3rd June 2003, 4.30 p.m., Steepholm Room, TOWN HALL

A meeting of the Committee will take place as indicated above. The agenda is set out overleaf.

Yours faithfully

Solicitor to the Council

To: Members of the Committee

Councillors:

Isabel Cummings, Peter Fisher, Muriel Kraft, Ron Moon, Ian Peddlesden

All other Members of the Council (for information)

Members are reminded that this and the subsequent meeting constitutes an appointments procedure and as such it is essential for the same Members to deal with the whole process.

AGENDA

1 Election of Chairman

2 Apologies for Absence and Notification of Substitutes

3 Public Discussion (Standing Order SO 17)

To receive and hear any person who wishes to address the Committee. The Chairman will select the order of the matters to be heard.

Note:

(No question or comment shall be permitted under these procedures where it would result in either:-

a) the likely disclosure of exempt information or confidential information, or

b) Discussion of a licensing application, application for registration or

c) participation by its employees concerning matters related to their own or colleagues employment)

“Exempt” and “Confidential” shall have the same meanings for this purpose as they have under the Access to Information provisions contained in the Local Government Act 1972 and the ruling of the appropriate office to act as Solicitor to the Council following consultation with the relevant Chairman, shall be conclusive in this regard.

4 Declarations of Interest by Members

5 Minutes

5.1 Committee Meeting – 8th April 2003 (page 4)

6 Matters referred by Council, the Executive and other Committees (if any)

7 Shortlisting and Interview Process for the Assistant Director of Housing and Social Services (Adult Care) – Exempt Item .(page 6)

8 Any other items of business that the Chairman decides are Urgent ____________________________________

EXEMPT ITEMS

Should the Committee wish to consider a matter as an Exempt Item, the Committee will be invited to pass the following resolution –

“(1) That the press, public, and officers not required by the Members, the Chief Executive or the Director, to remain during the exempt session, be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item of business on the ground that its consideration will involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Section 100I of the Local Government Act 1972.”

Also, if appropriate, the following resolution should be passed –

“(2) That members of the Council who are not members of this Committee be invited to remain.”

MOBILE PHONES, PAGERS AND SIMILAR CALLING DEVICES

All persons attending this meeting are requested to turn off these devices in accordance with the Council’s statement concerning disturbance caused by such apparatus. The Chairman may approve an exception to this request in special circumstances.

EMERGENCY EVACUATION PROCEDURE

ON HEARING THE ALARM – (a continuous two tone siren)

Leave the room by the nearest exit door. Ensure that windows are closed.

Last person out to close the door.

DO NOT stop to collect personal belongings.

DO NOT use the lifts.

FOLLOW the green and white exit signs and make your way to the assembly point.

DO NOT re-enter the building until authorised to do so by the Fire Authority.

GO TO ASSEMBLY POINT D – THE CAR PARK OPPOSITE MAIN RECEPTION

AGENDA ITEM 5.1

DRAFT

MINUTES

OF THE MEETING OF THE

Employment Committee

Tuesday 8th April 2003

HELD AT THE TOWN HALL, WESTON-SUPER-MARE, SOMERSET.

Meeting Commenced: 10.45 a.m. Meeting Concluded: 12.25 p.m.

PRESENT: Councillors Ian Peddlesden (Chairman for the meeting), Alan Hockridge, and Mrs. Muriel Kraft.

Officers Represented:

Mr. H. Buxton (Head of Human Resources)

Ms. F. Robertson (Legal Adviser)

Ms. J. Pyke (Democratic Services Officer)

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: Councillors Peter Fisher, Mike Fazackerley.

EMP

Election of Chairman

RESOLVED: that Councillor Peddlesden be elected as Chairman for the meeting.

EMP

Minutes – 20th and 21st March 2003 (Agenda Item 4)

RESOLVED: that the minutes of the meeting held on 20th and 21st March 2003 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

EMP

Exclusion of the Press and Public

RESOLVED: that the press, public together with the officers not required by the Members, the Chief Executive Officer to remain during the exempt session, be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item of business on the grounds that its consideration will involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Section 100I of the Local Government Act 1972.

Item Reason for Exemption

Minute No. 37 Paragraph 1 of Schedule 12A of Part 1

EMP

Agreement to Proceed With Reduced Committee Membership

The Chairman apologised for the delay in proceeding with the Committee. He explained that the Committee would normally comprise five Members, but due to the absence of two Members the Committee although reduced to three in number was politically balanced.

The Appellant and Trades Union representative gave their agreement to proceed with the Hearing.

EMP

Appeal Against Dismissal on Capability Due to Sickness, Absence – JM-01/03

The Chairman welcomed those present to the meeting and asked those persons to introduce themselves.

Mr. M. was appealing against dismissal on the grounds of capability due to sickness absence. During the Hearing he was represented by Ms. B. Gosling, Regional Representative GMB.

The Chairman outlined the procedure to be followed and the case for the Directorate was presented by Ms. P. Packer, Corporate Services Unit Personnel Manager.

The Appellant’s GMB representative had no questions for the management representative.

Members asked questions of the management representative.

The Appellant’s GMB representative presented the Appellant’s case and the management’s representative questioned the Appellant.

Members asked questions of the Appellant’s GMB representative and the Appellant.

The parties then summed up and left the room to enable the Committee to consider the matter.

RESOLVED: that the following statement be agreed as the Committee’s decision –

“The Committee has considered this issue at some length and have a great deal of sympathy for your case. However, the Committee has also had to consider very carefully the decision made by the managers at the time and with the information available on the day.

No evidence has been put forward today which has encouraged the Committee to overturn the decision made and the Committee therefore uphold the decision to dismiss you on the grounds of capability due to sickness and absence. We recognise that your health appears to have improved and we sincerely hope that this continues to be the case. Clearly, you may ultimately become fit to work and we are sure that the Council will welcome any application from you for employment when you have returned to full health.

This decision will be communicated to all appropriate parties in accordance with normal Council procedure”.

________________________________

Chairman

NORTH SOMERSET COUNCIL

REPORT TO THE EMPLOYMENT COMMITTEE

MEETING ON 3 JUNE 2003

OFFICER:	DIRECTOR OF HOUSING & SOCIAL SERVICES
OF:	HOUSING & SOCIAL SERVICES DIRECTORATE
SUBJECT:	New Appointment
KEY DECISION:	yes/no

1. SUMMARY

Appointment of Assistant Director (Adult Care)

2. RECOMMENDATIONS

1. That the vacancy of Assistant Director (Adult Care) be filled in accordance with normal procedures

2. That the recruitment process (programme attached) be approved

3. That the dates for interview (7 & 8 July 2003) be approved

Please note that it was not possible to report to the Employment Committee, as is normal practice, on matters relating to the job advertisement and information pack relating to this vacancy. This was due to the timing of the vacancy during the election period and the expedient need to fill a key position.

3. PROPORTIONALITY ISSUES

N/A

4. HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES

N/A

5. FUNDING IMPLICATIONS

	Approved Budget	Extra Bid?	Recurring/Base Budget?
Revenue
Capital

6. OTHER/RESOURCE IMPLICATIONS

Legal	Crime & Disorder	Health & Safety	Equal Opportunities	Trades Unions	Youth Voice	Other

7. COMMUNITY IMPACT

Corporate	Environment	Lifelong Learning	Health & Welfare	Prosperity

8. POLICY IMPLICATIONS (if any)

9. DETAILS

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (ADULT CARE)

HOUSING AND SOCIAL SERVICES

Day 1

Event	Personnel	Time	Venue

Arrival and welcome	Candidates Coffee/Tea	9.30am	CSU Room
Briefing	Director of Housing & Social Services & Chief Executive Officer	10.00am	CSU Room
Tests	Personnel Operational Manager/Senior Personnel Officer	10.20am	Rickford Room
Lunch	Chief Executive Officer, Directors, Leader of the Council, Member with Portfolio, Employment Committee, outside bodies, candidates and senior managers from the Housing & Social Services Directorate	12.15pm to 1.15pm	Chairman’s Room
Presentation	To outside bodies with elected Members observing	1.30pm to 5.00pm	Rickford Room
Media Experience	Corporate Press Officer	1.30pm to 5.00pm	To be confirmed
	Candidates depart/ Members/Officer Evening Buffet	5.15pm to 5.45pm	CSU Room
Employment Committee convene to receive feedback and short-list	Members of Employment Committee, Chief Executive Officer, Director of Housing & Social Services	5.45pm	CSU Room

Day 2

Formal Interviews

(Chairman’s Room)

Approved Budget

Time

Employment Committee convene to receive feedback and short-list

Formal Interviews