Agenda and minutes

Venue: Remote Meeting via Zoom

Contact: Heather Kingston
Democratic Services Officer
01903 221006  Email: heather.kingston@adur-worthing.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

JStC/9/20-21

Substitute Members

Any substitute members should declare their substitution.

Minutes:

There were no substitute Members.

JStC/10/20-21

Minutes

To approve the minutes of the Joint Staff Committee meeting held on 17 November 2020, copies of which have been previously circulated.

Minutes:

Resolved that the minutes of the Joint Staff Committee meeting held on the 17 November 2020, be approved as an accurate record and signed by the Chairman.

JStC/11/20-21

Declarations of Interest

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.

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest by those present.

JStC/12/20-21

Public Question Time

So as 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 Tuesday 2 February 2021.

 

Where meetings are held remotely, no question will be permitted from the public unless such notice has been given.

 

Questions should be submitted to Democratic Services -

democratic.services@adur-worthing.gov.uk

Minutes:

No questions had been submitted in advance.

JStC/13/20-21

Items Raised under Urgency Provisions

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

Minutes:

There were no items raised under urgency provisions.

JStC/14/20-21

HR Policies - Out of Hours Standby and Call Out Policy and Procedures Policy pdf icon PDF 123 KB

To consider the report by the Director for Digital Sustainability and Resources, attached as Item 6.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Before the Committee was a report by the Director for Digital Sustainability & Resources, 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 6. 

 

The report sought approval of the revised Out of Hours - Standby and Call Out Policy with an implementation date of 4 February 2021. 

 

The Officer advised the Committee that the Out of Hours Policy had originally been agreed by UNISON on 7 November 2019 and by the Joint Staff Committee on 25 November 2019. 

 

When the implementation of the policy commenced and staff affected by the policy were consulted, a number of queries were raised.  The Officer advised following that consultation the policy had been reviewed and a number of amendments made and those changes were summarised in appendix 3.

 

The Officer referred Members to the new policy document and ran through the more significant amendments that mainly related to remuneration.

 

The Officer concluded her presentation by advising UNISON had agreed the revised policy, having been involved with the staff consultation, and it was formally signed off by UNISON on 3 February 2021.

 

Some Members raised queries and comments with the Officer which were answered in turn.  

 

One Member referred to pages 8 and 9 of the new policy, 8.2 and 9.  He spoke firstly in relation to the fourth bulletin point under 8.2 where it stated - Risk assessments for the duties are up-to-date.  He felt it should include that it was the manager’s responsibility to ensure the safety of the staff member.  Also, under 9, Employee Responsibilities, he felt it was the employee’s responsibility to work safely in accordance with the relevant policies and practices and keep others safe, including members of the public.    

 

Another Member requested clarification regarding the out-of-hours rota.  The Officer responded by advising the week of an out-of-hours rota would be Monday - Sunday, as most covered evenings and weekends.  The Member also referred to risk assessments and questioned whether it needed updating to manage the risk of an emergency e.g. a pandemic.  The Officer clarified it was an out of hours provision rather than an emergency provision.  

 

Another Member referred to the Equality Impact Assessment and requested clarification, particularly in relation to child caring responsibilities, that the policy would not have an adverse impact.  The Officer responded by advising that some were dealt with on a case by case basis and some staff, it had been agreed, would not be included on the rota, not just based on child care but other situations.

 

Following debate, the Committee Members voted unanimously to accept the Officer’s recommendation, on the proviso the Officer agreed additional wording regarding risk assessments i.e. that it was the manager’s responsibility to ensure the safety of the staff member, to include the safety of members of the public where relevant.

 

Decision 

 

The Joint Staff Committee APPROVED the revised Out of Hours - Standby and Call Out Policy, with an  ...  view the full minutes text for item JStC/14/20-21