| Item | Description | Resolution |
|---|---|---|
| PART 1 - PUBLIC | ||
| GP 09/001 |
Declarations of interest. |
There were no declarations of interest made. |
| GP 09/002 |
Minutes |
RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on 24 September 2008 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman. |
| GP 09/003 |
Minutes of Electoral Review Working Group |
The Minutes of the meeting of the Electoral Review Working Group held on 11 November 2008 were presented. RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the meeting of the Electoral Review Working Group held on 11 November 2008 be received and noted and the recommendations contained therein be adopted. |
| DECISIONS TAKEN UNDER DELEGATED POWERS IN ACCORDANCE WITH PARAGRAPH 3 (OR 2), PART 3 OF THE CONSTITUTION | ||
| GP 09/004 |
Restructure of Posts within Central Services |
Consideration was given to the report of the Central Services Director which proposed some minor changes to the support service of the Central Services establishment, the cost of which had been factored into the general savings exercise undertaken by the Management Team and included in the base budget costs for the 2009/10 financial year. RESOLVED: That (1) post number DB0324 be regraded to scale M9 and redesignated Systems Administrator with effect from 1 January 2009; (2) the post of Customer Support Assistant be established on a grade of scale 2/3 for 15 hours per week from 1 April 2009; and (3) the post of Administrative Assistant (Legal Services) be established on a grade of scale 2/3 for 15 hours per week from 1 April 2009. |
| GP 09/005 |
Consultation on the 2009 Local Authority Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) |
The report of the Director of Finance set out a suggested response to the proposed changes to the Code of Practice on Local Authority Accounting in the United Kingdom, a Statement of Recommended Practice (the SORP) for 2009. It was noted that the SORP, issued by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, governed the way in which the Council's Statement of Accounts was prepared. The report highlighted the more significant changes and it was noted that working practices would be reviewed to ensure compliance with the new requirements. Members expressed concern in relation to Question 9 that provision of additional information by billing authorities would create further pressure on staff time and it was suggested that the possibility of making a charge should be explored. RESOLVED: That the proposed response to the consultation on the 2009 Local Authority SORP, as set out in the Annex to the report, be endorsed subject to inclusion of reference to a possible charge for work in connection with matters set out in Question 9 of the consultation. |
| MATTERS SUBMITTED FOR INFORMATION | ||
| GP 09/006 |
Accounts and Audit Regulations |
The Director of Finance reported on a recently published Department for Communities and Local Government consultation paper on proposed changes to the Accounts and Audit Regulations together with responses made by the 23 January deadline for comments. The report outlined the main proposals including a requirement for the Statement of Accounts to be certified as presenting a "true and fair" view from 2008/09 together with future changes to the levels of disclosure of remuneration in local authorities. RESOLVED: That the report be received and noted. |
| GP 09/007 |
Training Report 2007/08 |
The report of the Central Services Director gave details of the nature of training and development activity together with a breakdown of expenditure during 2007/08. Members were also advised of the outcomes of evaluation studies of the various activities. The Committee acknowledged that the breadth of training represented an efficient targeting of funding, designed to equip officers and Members with the skills necessary to achieve standards specified in external quality audits. In terms of developing the Council's future capacity, reference was made to the appropriate use of resources in succession planning. RESOLVED: That the report be received and noted and a letter of congratulation from the Chairman be sent to the staff who had successfully completed qualification courses. |
| MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION IN PRIVATE | ||
| GP 09/008 |
Exclusion of Press and Public |
The Chairman moved, it was seconded and RESOLVED: That as public discussion would disclose exempt information, the following matters be considered in private. |
| PART 2 - PRIVATE | ||
| MATTERS FOR RECOMMENDATION TO THE COUNCIL | ||
| GP 09/009 |
Executive Services - Restructure (Reason: LGA 1972 Sch 12A Para 1 - Information relating to an individual) |
Consideration was given to the report of the Chief Executive which brought forward a minor restructuring of the community development and community safety functions within Executive Services with a view both to strengthening those services and achieving savings to assist the Council's current budgetary position. Members requested that a report be presented to a future meeting on comparative authority survey data on salaries and markets for professional posts to assist in meeting future skills requirements. RECOMMENDED: That (1) the post of Assistant Projects Officer (Community Safety) (DC0504) be deleted; (2) the post of Community Partnerships Officer (DC0102) be redesignated as Safer and Stronger Communities Manager on Grade M8, initially on the basis of 30 hours per week, with effect from 1 April 2009; and (3) the post of Community Projects Officer (DC0103) be redesignated as Scrutiny and Partnerships Manager on Grade M8 with effect from 1 April 2009. *Referred to Council |
| GP 09/010 |
Accountancy Section and Exchequer Services Section Restructure (Reason: LGA 1972 Sch 12A Para 1 - Information relating to an individual) |
The Director of Finance presented a proposed staff restructure and redistribution of work responsibilities within the Accountancy and Exchequer Services sections of Financial Services. It was noted that the proposals provided for transitional arrangements in response to the pending retirement of the Exchequer Services Manager and would result in a net saving to the Council. In considering the proposals Members acknowledged the need to address capacity and resilience issues in workforce planning which was now a Key Line of Enquiry requirement. RECOMMENDED: That (1) the recent reduction in the working week of the Exchequer Services Manager to four days be noted; (2) the post (DF0202) of Principal Accountant (Corporate Services) be regraded M6 with effect from 1 April 2009 for the reasons outlined in the report; (3) the post (DF0203) of Principal Accountant (Operational Services) be regraded M6 with effect from 1 April 2009 for the reasons outlined in the report; (4) the post (DF0403) of Insurance and Risk Manager be regraded M8 with effect from 1 April 2009 for the reasons outlined in the report and the post be redesignated Exchequer Services Manager on the retirement of the current post holder; (5) the job description for post DF0402 (Senior Exchequer Assistant) be amended to reflect the substitution of day-to-day operational support in respect of treasury management with day-to-day operational support in respect of insurance matters on the retirement of the current Exchequer Services Manager; (6) the working week of the currently vacant Accountancy Assistant post scale 2/3/4 (DF0210) be reduced from four days to two days; (7) a new post of Accountancy Assistant scale 2/3/4 be established, appointment to the post to occur shortly before the retirement of the Exchequer Services Manager; and (8) on the retirement of the Exchequer Services Manager post DF0401 be deleted from the establishment. *Referred to Council |
| DECISIONS TAKEN UNDER DELEGATED POWERS IN ACCORDANCE WITH PARAGRAPH 3 (OR 2), PART 3 OF THE CONSTITUTION | ||
| GP 09/011 |
Regrading of Licensing Assistant (Reason: LGA 1972 Sch 12A Para 1 - Information relating to an individual) |
The report of the Chief Solicitor proposed the regrading of the post of Licensing Assistant in Legal Services to reflect the additional responsibilities in respect of the Gambling and Taxi licensing function. RESOLVED: That post number DR0405, Licensing Assistant, be regraded to scale 2/3 backdated to 15 October 2008. |
| GP 09/012 |
Leisure Services Business Unit - Technical Staff Restructure (Reason: LGA 1972 Sch 12A Para 1 - Information relating to an individual) |
The Chief Leisure Officer presented a proposal to revise the technical staff structure within the Leisure Services Business Unit which, it was noted, would result in an annual saving to the Council. RESOLVED: That (1) the post of Technical Manager (XX2407) be redesignated Plant Engineer (Larkfield Leisure Centre) and regraded to LC16 with effect from 1 April 2009; and (2) one of the posts of Plant Operative at Tonbridge Swimming Pool (XX3802/XX2408) be redesignated Plant Engineer (Tonbridge Swimming Pool) and regraded to LC16 with effect from 1 April 2009. |