Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Hotson.

The following substitutions were noted:-

Councillor Horne for Councillor Hotson

There were no Visiting Members.

RESOLVED:  That Councillor Lusty be appointed Chairman for the municipal year 2009/10.

RESOLVED:  That Councillor Moss be appointed Vice Chairman for the municipal year 2009/10.

There were no disclosures.

There were no disclosures of lobbying.

RESOLVED:  That the items on Part II of the Agenda be taken in private as proposed.

RESOLVED: That the following political group spokespersons be appointed for the municipal year 2009/10:-

Conservative – Councillor Garland

Liberal Democrat – Councillor Mrs Wilson

Independent – Councillor Mrs Marshall

To move that the public be excluded for the items set out in Part II of the Agenda because of the likely disclosure of exempt information for the reasons specified having applied the Public Interest Test.

The Panel considered the Report of the HR Manager regarding revisions to the Discipline, Capability and Grievance Policies.

Members raised some concern with regard to the newly proposed Appeals process.  The Panel felt appellants should still have a choice as to whether the Chief Executive or Members heard their appeal.  Members did feel that the current Appeals Committee was too large and should, perhaps, be reduced to a 3 Member Panel as a sub-Committee of the Appeals Committee. 

The Panel raised a number of questions with regard to the current process and requested that officers investigate ways in which the current process could be streamlined to work more effectively.

RESOLVED:

1.  That Officers bring a further report to the Employment and Development Panel regarding further options for the Appeal process.

2.  That the revised Capability Procedure be agreed, subject to the outcome of 1 above.

3.  That the revised Grievance Procedure be agreed, subject to the outcome of 1 above.

The HR Manager raised the issue of training for members of the Employment and Development Panel.  The HR Manager recommended that training should be given with regard to the functions of the Employment and Development Panel.

Members felt that training was necessary and that only members who have undergone the full training should sit on the Panel.

RESOLVED:

1.  That full training be given to Members of the Employment and Development Panel with regard to the recruitment and selection process and the annual appraisal process.

2.  That the Member Development Policy be amended to reflect that Members of the Employment and Development Panel must undertake this training in order to be eligible to sit on the Panel.

RESOLVED:  That the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business because of the likely disclosure of exempt information for the reason specified.

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes (Part II) of the Full Year Appraisal 2008/09 and Targets and Objectives 2009/10 – Chief Executive, Director of Prosperity & Regeneration and Director of Change & Environmental Services be approved as a correct record and signed.

6.30 pm to 7.42 pm