| Item | Description | Resolution |
|---|---|---|
| PART 1 - PUBLIC | ||
| GP 13/001 |
Declarations of interest. |
There were no declarations of interest made. |
| GP 13/002 |
Minutes |
RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on 25 September 2012 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman. |
| GP 13/003 |
Minutes |
RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the extraordinary meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on 22 October 2012 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman. |
| MATTERS FOR RECOMMENDATION TO THE COUNCIL | ||
| GP 13/004 |
Localism Act - Pay Policy |
The report of the Director of Central Services referred to the requirement under the Localism Act 2011 for the Council to review its pay policy statement for each financial year before 31 March. A summary was given of the aspects of the Council's remuneration policy to be included within the Pay Policy Statement for 2013/14 which was set out at the Annex to the report. It was noted that since there had been no changes to the remuneration policy, the substantive content of the updated Pay Policy Statement remained identical to that adopted on 16 February 2012. Members were advised that the policy represented the anticipated establishment on 31 March 2013 and this would be updated in due course when the further changes to the Council's senior management structure took effect in May 2013. RECOMMENDED: That the Pay Policy Statement 2013/14, as set out at Annex 1 to the report, be commended to the Council for adoption. *Referred to Council |
| GP 13/005 |
Legal Services - Establishment |
Consideration was given to the joint report of the Chief Executive and the Director of Central Services proposing the establishment of the post of Principal Solicitor as head of Legal Services within the Central Services directorate in response to the identified business needs of the Council. It was noted that the funding to support the post would be generated by the savings referred to in the report on Establishment Changes (Minute GP 13/008 refers). RECOMMENDED: That the post of Principal Solicitor be established at grade M5 with effect from 1 April 2013. *Referred to Council |
| DECISIONS TAKEN UNDER DELEGATED POWERS IN ACCORDANCE WITH PARAGRAPH 3 (OR 2), PART 3 OF THE CONSTITUTION | ||
| GP 13/006 |
Community Governance Review |
The report of the Chief Executive referred to the requirement for the Borough Council to keep parish electoral arrangements under review. Details were given of a proposed Community Governance Review to be undertaken into the boundary between Leybourne and Ryarsh parishes as a result of the recent review of borough wards conducted by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England. Since the draft Order following that review was awaiting acceptance by the Government, a mechanism was suggested for enabling the Community Governance Review to be commenced within the timescale for ensuring that electoral arrangements were in place for the 2015 elections. RESOLVED: That the Leader of the Council (Chairman of the Electoral Review Working Group) be granted delegated authority to permit the Community Governance Review (CGR) to commence subject to the Working Group endorsing the CGR and agreeing to the Terms of Reference and Draft Proposals. |
| MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION IN PRIVATE | ||
| GP 13/007 |
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 | ||
| DECISIONS TAKEN UNDER DELEGATED POWERS IN ACCORDANCE WITH PARAGRAPH 3 (OR 2), PART 3 OF THE CONSTITUTION | ||
| GP 13/008 |
Establishment Changes (Reason: LGA 1972 Sch 12A Para 1 - Information relating to an individual) |
The report of the Management Team set out for information and endorsement a number of establishment changes that had been approved on an operational basis by the Team. It was noted that financial adjustments in respect of the changes would be referred to the Cabinet in order to update the estimates for 2013/14. RESOLVED: That (1) the following adjustments be endorsed: 1) DF0602 Fraud Investigation Officer (18.5 hours) scale 4/5/6 - hours increased to 22.5 hours; 2) DF0605 Fraud Investigation Officer (37 hours) scale 4/5/6 - hours reduced to 22 hours; 3) DG0203 Golf Course Warden (28 hours) scale 1 - post deleted from the permanent establishment with effect from 1 April 2013 and provision of £10,000 made in the temporary staff budget for 2013/14; 4) DR0405 Licensing Assistant (20 hours) - post re-graded from scale 2/3 to 3/4 and re-designated Licensing Administration Officer (20 hours); 5) DR0003 Principal Legal Officer (21 hours) scale M8 - post deleted from the establishment with effect from 1 April 2013; 6) DA0304 Democratic Services Officer (37 hours) scale 5/6 - hours reduced to 29.5 hours; 7) DA0202 Administrative Assistant (22 hours ) scale 2/3 - post deleted from the establishment with effect from 1 May 2013; 8) DV0799 Temporary Housing Options Officer (37 hours) - contract extended until 31 December 2013; 9) DJ0002 Secretary/Administrator (37 hours) scale 5 - post deleted from the establishment with effect from 1 March 2013; (2) the 2013/14 legal fees budget be reduced by £6,850; (3) the Administration and Property Technical Assistance budget of £6,000 be deleted in both 2012/13 Revised Estimate and 2013/14 Estimate; and (4) the voluntary bumped redundancy arrangement following the recommended deletion of post DJ0002, agreed in liaison with the Chairman of the Committee and the Cabinet Member for Finance, be endorsed. |
| GP 13/009 |
IT Staff Restructure Report (Reason: LGA 1972 Sch 12A Para 1 - Information relating to an individual) |
The report of the Chief Executive set out proposals to adjust the staffing structure within IT Services in order to enable greater focus on developing self-service on the new Council website and improved service delivery and resilience in the GIS team. It was noted that the proposed restructure had been endorsed by the Innovation and Improvement Advisory Board (Decision No D120169MEM). The Committee's thanks were recorded to the IT Development Manager and the Personnel and Customer Services Manager and to all others involved in implementing the new website. RESOLVED: That the proposed structure set out in the report and Annexes thereto be approved. |