| Item | Description | Resolution |
|---|---|---|
| PART 1 - PUBLIC | ||
| GP 09/013 |
Declarations of interest. |
There were no declarations of interest made. |
| GP 09/014 |
Minutes |
RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on 5 February 2009 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman. |
| GP 09/015 |
Minutes of Electoral Review Working Group |
The Minutes of the meeting of the Electoral Review Working Group held on 25 March 2009 were presented. RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the meeting of the Electoral Review Working Group held on 25 March 2009 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 09/016 |
Recruitment and Selection Policy, Procedure and Guidance |
The report of the Central Services Director introduced a Recruitment and Selection Policy and Procedure which had been developed as part of an ongoing review of all the Council's employment policies and procedures. The document sought to encompass all aspects of the recruitment and selection process, providing a structure and guidance to managers which would allow them to make fair decisions that were not open to challenge. Members emphasised the importance of staff having appropriate communication skills and considered that reference to ability to understand/converse in English should be deleted from the Question Checklist. RESOLVED: That the Recruitment and Selection Policy, Procedure and Guidance attached to the report, as amended, be adopted. |
| GP 09/017 |
Policy on Domestic Abuse |
The report of the Central Services Director highlighted the importance of recognising the employer's role in issues of domestic abuse and presented for adoption a policy for staff. Members considered that guidance should be provided not only to managers but also to front line staff to increase awareness of and ability to recognise signs of domestic abuse to enable the appropriate professional organisations to be alerted. RESOLVED: That the Domestic Abuse Policy attached to the report be adopted. |
| GP 09/018 |
Assisted Car Purchase Scheme Interest Rate |
The Central Services Director reported that, in the light of falling bank interest rates, the Management Team had decided that the Council's position should be protected by amending the terms of the Assisted Car Purchase Scheme interest rate. A cap had therefore been set on the minimum interest rate applicable to any loan. RESOLVED: That the decision taken by the Management Team to set the interest rate applied to the Assisted Car Purchase Scheme at 5% or 2% above base rates, whichever is the higher, be endorsed. |
| MATTERS SUBMITTED FOR INFORMATION | ||
| GP 09/019 |
Comparative Salaries in Kent |
The Central Services Director referred to concerns expressed by Members regarding the effect of recent Service restructuring and advised that a survey of authorities in the south-east region confirmed that the Borough Council's salary levels remained competitive. The Committee was advised that relative salary levels would continue to be monitored and any disparities likely to cause recruitment or retention problems would be brought to Members' attention. RESOLVED: That the report be received and noted. |
| MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION IN PRIVATE | ||
| GP 09/020 |
Exclusion of Press and Public |
No items were considered in private. |