Agenda and minutes

(1)               The minutes of the meeting held on 17 September 2012 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

(2)               Mrs Beer said that the update on the GradsKent Programme and the Apprenticeship Scheme referred to in minute 22 (3)(c) had been deferred to the next meeting of this Committee on 18 January 2013 to take account of work that was currently underway.

Report by Mr Roger Gough – Cabinet Member for Business Strategy, Performance and Health Reform and Mrs Amanda Beer – Corporate Director Human Resources.  (Mr Colin Miller – Reward Manager was present for this item)

(1)               Mr Miller introduced the report which outlined the background to this matter.  The Policy & Resources Cabinet Committee had considered this matter at its meeting on 27 September 2012 and supported the taking of a decision by the leader to implement Auto Enrolment into the LGPS from April 2014.

(2)               RESOLVED to note the contents of the report together with the decision taken by the Leader that transitional arrangements be made for the implementation  of Auto Enrolment into Kent’s LGPS and Teachers’ Pension Scheme.

Report by Mr Roger Gough – Cabinet Member for Business Strategy, Performance and Health Reform and Mrs Amanda Beer – Corporate Director Human Resources

(Mr P Royel – Head of Employment Strategy was present for this item)

(1)               Mr Royel introduced the report which provided a summary of the progress made on the implementation of the organisational design principles specified in Bold Steps for Kent and the stated intention of achieving no more than six levels of management from Corporate Director to front line service delivery.  The model being utilised to help achieve this is Decision Making Accountability (DMA).

(2)               RESOLVED to note the report and the progress made on implementing the design principle using the DMA model.

Report by Mr Roger Gough – Cabinet Member for Business Strategy, Performance and Health Reform and Mrs Amanda Beer – Corporate Director Human Resources.   (Mrs Teresa McCarthy-Strategic Business Information Manager was present for this item)

(1)               Mrs McCarthy introduced the report which provided a mid-year update to the Annual Workforce Profile report presented to the Personnel Committee in May 2012.  The report paid specific attention to the continuing reduction in the staffing numbers in the first half of 2012-13, together with details of changes in the demographics of the workforce during the period, trends within the year and intra year movements.

(2)               RESOLVED to note the update to KCC’s staffing profile and the in-year trends presented in the report.

Report by Mr Roger Gough – Cabinet Member for Business Strategy, Performance and Health Reform and Mrs Amanda Beer – Corporate Director Human Resources.  (Mr Paul Wickenden – Democratic Services Transition Manager was present for this item)

(1)               Mr Wickenden introduced the report which reflected proposed changes to the Personnel Management Rules as set out in Appendix 2 of Part 6 of the Constitution that will be submitted to the County Council for approval on 13 December 2012. 

(2)               RESOLVED to endorse the proposed changes to the Personnel Management Rules which will reported to the County Council for approval at its meeting on 13 December 2012.

Verbal report by Mrs Amanda Beer – Corporate Director – Human Resources

Mrs Beer gave an update on the recent work of the Challenger group and in particular its consideration of employee engagement and corporate communications.  She said that a staff recognition and award scheme had already been launched and, in conjunction with the corporate communications team a campaign based on the Challenger group findings and staff focus groups to develop employee engagement and enhance corporate communications would be launched in January 2013.

Next meeting to take place Friday, 18 January 2013 at Sessions House, County Hall commencing 2pm and not 25 January as previously advertised

The Committee noted that the next meeting of the Personnel Committee would take place at 2pm on Friday, 18 January 2013 at Sessions House, County Hall and not 25 January as had previously been notified.

RESOLVED that under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1 and 4 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

(Exempt Items (Open Access to Minutes)

Report by Mr Roger Gough – Cabinet Member for Business Strategy, Performance and Health Reform and Mrs Amanda Beer – Corporate Director Human Resources.  (Mr Colin Miller – Reward Manager was present for this item)

(1)               Mr Miller introduced the report which said a survey had been undertaken to establish the views of staff about the employment package that KCC offered.  The outcomes of the survey were intended to help select the best approach to deliver the required savings from terms and conditions and to do so in a way that worked for both employees and the County Council.

(2)               RESOLVED

(a)               To agree the scope for the consultation as set out in the report.

(b)               To consider the outcomes of the consultation for decision at the next meeting of the Personnel Committee in January 2013.

(Report by Mr John Simmonds- Cabinet Member for Finance and Business Support and Mr Andy Wood- Corporate Director of Finance and Procurement)

(1)               The Committee was asked for approval to extend the interim appointment to the Head of Internal Audit post up to 22 August 2013.

(2)               RESOLVED to agree an extension of up to six months, to 22 August 2013, to the Head of Internal Audit’s interim appointment.