Meeting documents

CHILTERN DISTRICT COUNCIL

MINUTES of the Meeting of the PERSONNEL COMMITTEE

held on 14 NOVEMBER 2001

1.     ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN    

RESOLVED –

That Councillor J A Banham be elected Chairman of the Committee for the remainder of the Council year.

2.     APPOINTMENT OF VICE-CHAIRMAN

RESOLVED –

That Councillor A Dibbo be elected Vice-Chairman of the Committee for the remainder of the Council year.

3.     DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

     There were no declarations of interest at this point.

4.     EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC    

RESOLVED –

That under section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Act.

Note: The relevant paragraph numbers from Part I of Schedule 12A are indicated at the end of the Minute headings.

5.          PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL – CHIEF EXECUTIVE, DIRECTORS AND SENIOR STAFF

     (Paragraph 1)

The report before the Committee outlined the procedure for the performance appraisal of the Chief Executive and Directors, which had been agreed at the former Personnel Sub-Committee on 25 July 2001.  The report also outlined suggestions for a pattern of Member appraisals of senior staff in the light of the Council’s new Constitution.  Members were asked to consider the size of the Panels and whether Member representation should be drawn exclusively from the Executive.  There would also be a need to schedule the meetings.  

Suggestions were made that the Committee should consider:-

Concerns were expressed at these suggestions and, in particular, at the number of interviewers on some of the Panels.  The Chief Executive advised that as the Head of Paid Service he would, as in previous years, wish to be involved in all appraisal interviews of Directors and senior staff, in order to secure consistency.

Discussion took place on whether appraisal training should be given to those Members appointed to Panels on a one-to-one basis or as a group.  It was considered that group training would be more beneficial, which could be supplemented by one-to-one training for individuals on request.

RESOLVED –

5.     That the Executive Leader be authorised to nominate substitute Members if necessary.

6.     STAFF – DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND THE ENVIRONMENT – TRANSPORT OFFICER

     (Paragraph 1)

The Committee was advised that this post had been filled on a part-time basis in May 2000, on a fixed term two year contract.  The post-holder had recently resigned and as only six months remained of the two year fixed term, it was considered that the matter should be referred to this Committee for consideration.  

The report of the officers outlined the work undertaken by the post-holder.  Members were advised that since the role was created, the Countryside Agency had launched a Parish Transport Grant and invited bids from Town and Parish Councils.  It was understood that this scheme had now been extended to enable bids from District Councils to be made.

Members were mindful of the financial pressures on the Council at the present time and wondered if the post should be filled until information on possible Grant Aid had been received.  Attention was drawn to the inclusion of transport policies within the District’s Community Plan.  It was advised that if transport matters were within the plan, then work would need to be undertaken on transport matters, and staffing to undertake this work would need to be provided.  

RESOLVED –

That consideration of the filling of the post of Transport Officer be deferred for two months, to enable an application to be made to the Countryside Agency for grant assistance towards the cost of filling this post.

Note:  Following consideration of the above item, Members indicated that they wished to discuss an Information Item which had been circulated, and the meeting was accordingly moved into open session.

7.     INVESTORS IN PEOPLE

The Committee noted that an information item had been circulated concerning the Council’s success in being assessed in continuing to meet the standards required of our Investor in People.

Arising from discussion on the item, Members commented on the success of joint meetings at which Members and officers had been present.  This was felt to be a valuable format for training events.  Particular attention was drawn to the success of the EFQM Assessor Training.  The report was noted.

The meeting ended at 7.36 p.m.

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