Agenda and draft minutes

Any substitute members should declare their substitution.

Councillor Debs Stainforth substituted for Councillor Robina Baine.

To approve the minutes of the Joint Staff Committee meeting held on 29th March 2023, copies of which have been previously circulated.

Resolved that the minutes of the Joint Staff Committee meeting held on the 29th March 2023, be approved as an accurate record and signed by the Chairman.

Members and officers must declare any disclosable pecuniary interests in relation to any business on the agenda.  Declarations should also be made at any stage such an interest becomes apparent during the meeting.  

If in doubt, contact the Legal or Democratic Services representative for this meeting.

There were no declarations of interest by those present.

To provide the best opportunity for the Committee to provide the public with the fullest answer, questions from the public should be submitted by midday on 14th March 2024.

Questions should be submitted to Democratic Services via email at
democratic.services@adur-worthing.gov.uk

No questions were received.

Pre-submitted Members questions are pursuant to rule 12 of the Council & Committee Procedure Rules. 

Questions should be submitted by midday on 14th March 2024 to Democratic Services, democratic.services@adur-worthing.gov.uk 

(Note: Member Question Time will operate for a maximum of 30 minutes)

No questions were received.

To consider any items the Chairman of the meeting considers to be urgent.

There were no items raised under urgency provisions.

To consider a report by the Assistant Director for People & Change, attached as Item 7.

Before the Committee was a report by the Assistant Director for People and Change, copies of which had been circulated to all Members and a copy of which is attached to the signed copy of these minutes as Item 7. 

The report summarised the Flexible Working (Amendment) Regulations 2023, Paternity Leave (Amendment) Regulations 2024 and Carer's Leave Act 2023 and Carer's Leave Regulations 2024 which would apply as of April 2024.

The Committee was informed that both internal communications and drop-in surgeries would be used to promote changes to staff.

The Committee welcomed the proposals and supported the recommendations as set out in the report. 

Decision 

That the Joint Staff Committee 

1.    Noted the legislative changes to Adur & Worthing Councils’ Flexible Working Policy, Family Friendly (Paternity Leave, Parental Leave, and Childcare Subsidy) Policy and Leave Policy from 6th April.

2.    Noted that where Adur & Worthing Councils policies above are more generous than the Government legislative requirement, the policies will not change. The changes are intended to ensure the Councils comply with government legislation not to reduce employee rights.

3.    Delegated authority to the Assistant Director for People & Change (in consultation with the Chief Financial Officer and the Assistant Director for Legal & Democratic Services, where relevant) to make minor and non-material amendments to the policies above in accordance with the legislative requirements.