Issue - meetings

Report of the Human Resources Operations Manager

The Human Resources Manager introduced herself and the report as circulated with the agenda, which was taken as read.

She noted the request of Trade Union colleagues that the word ‘Officer’ be replaced with ‘Employee’ and this would be changed accordingly.

The following responses were given by the Human Resources Manager (with input from the Solicitor where necessary) to questions from members of the Committee;

• (Page 5 / Item 1 / last paragraph) - The Council had to assume that employees had a certain amount of ‘common sense’.  It wasn’t possible to encompass everything within the document.  Line Managers and HR Advisors were able to provide advice and support when required to do so.
• Page 5 / Item 2 / paragraph 2) - The Code applied to employees of contractors and formed part of procurement exercises.  The wording could be amended so that it was less ambiguous and stated that the Employee Code of Conduct would form part of all procurement exercises.
•  (Page 7 / Item 5.2 / paragraph 8) - The wording ‘or in writing to the Monitoring Officer’ would be added at the end of the paragraph.
• (Page 8 / Item 5.3) - It was confirmed that some employees such as solicitors or accountants were also governed by professional standards. It was explained that not all of the professional standards and requirements would be applicable to employees by virtue of working in local government as opposed to the private sector.
• Where applicable the references directed at the employee would be amended to ‘you’.
• (Page 9 / Item 5.7 / paragraph 2) - All employees had to inform the Council if they were going to engage in any other business or accept additional employment.  However, those on Grade G or above were obliged to obtain written consent from their Divisional Director. This wording could be amended to provide clarity.
• (Page 10 / Item 5.9 / paragraph 3) - The wording ‘with permission of your manager’ would be removed, as this insert referred to numerous calls (which would interrupt business) rather than one-offs.  The boundaries for use of company mobiles were set out in the Council’s ‘Mobile Phone’ policy.  Line Mangers were responsible for managing an individual’s use of personal mobile phones during business hours.
• References to Council officers and contractors would be changed to ‘you’.
• (Page 10 / Item 5.10 / paragraph 5) - The term ‘close personal friend’ would be exchanged with ‘friend’ to avoid ambiguity. 
• (Page 12 / Item 5.13 / paragraph 2) - The word ‘demonstrate’ would be replaced by something along the lines of ‘fully cooperate so that it can be established if any such rewards have not been corruptly obtained’.  Members were uncomfortable that the original wording implied that an employee was assumed guilty.
• (Page 12 / Item 5.13 / paragraph 3) - The wording would be amended to clarify that the Code also applied if the employee’s residence at a property affected the receipt of benefit for another person.
• (Page 12 / Item  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6