Minute of Meeting of the Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) For Local Government Employees held on 29 March 2022
North Lanarkshire Council · 14 September 2022
Back to Finance and Resources Committee — 14 September 2022 and its agenda
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JOINT CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES - 29 MARCH 2022 1 29 March 2022 at 2 pm. A Remote Meeting of the JOINT CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES PRESENT Councillors D. Ashraf, Barclay, Brannan-McVey, M. Coyle, Douglas, Peter Kelly and Stocks. M. Quigley, Vice-Convener, UNISON; W. Shearer and J. Watson, UNISON, and J. Rooney, Unite (T & G). CHAIR M. Quigley, Vice-Convener, presided. IN ATTENDANCE Head of People and Organisational Development; Senior Employee Relations Adviser; Committee Officer, and Administrative Officer. APOLOGIES Councillors Duffy, Fisher and Paul Kelly, D. Whelan and S. Traynor, GMB, and A. Clark, UNISON. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST IN TERMS OF THE ETHICAL STANDARDS IN PUBLIC LIFE ETC. (SCOTLAND) ACT 2000 1. There were no declarations of interest. INTRODUCTION OF BREASTFEEDING POLICY 2. With reference to (1) paragraph 15 of the Minute of the meeting of the former Policy and Resources Committee held on 6 December 2018, when it had been agreed that options regarding the Council’s commitment to support awareness and engagement for breastfeeding be explored, and (2) paragraph 5 of the Finance and Resources Committee held on 10 March 2022, when it had been agreed that the Breastfeeding Policy be implemented from 4 April 2022, there was submitted a report by the Head of People and Organisational Development (a) advising that the new Breastfeeding Policy which would (A) enhance the current provisions presently in place within the Council, and (B) allow working mothers to continue to breastfeed on their return to work from maternity leave; (b) intimating that the aim of the Policy was to encourage employees returning to work from maternity leave to continue to breastfeed through the provision of appropriate facilities, and access to flexible working arrangements, in line with the Council's Smarter Working Policy; (c) highlighting the roles and responsibilities for managers and employees, and those issues managers need to consider in terms of practical arrangements which should be put in place, and (d) indicating that, where possible, requests would be accommodated for breastfeeding mothers with regards to flexible working; suitable facilities for breastfeeding, or expressing milk, and storage facilities for breast milk. Decided: (1) that the work undertaken to support the introduction of a formal Breastfeeding Policy, with the enhanced arrangements to be introduced from 4 April 2022, be noted, and (2) that the report be otherwise noted.
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JOINT CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES - 29 MARCH 2022 2 INTRODUCTION OF AN ELECTRIC CAR SALARY SACRIFICE SCHEME 3. With reference to paragraph 4 of the Finance and Resources Committee held on 10 March 2022 when, inter alia, it had been agreed that the Electric Car Salary Sacrifice Scheme be launched early 2023, there was submitted a report by the Head of People and Organisational Development (1) outlining the background to the employee benefits package, which would help the Council to attract, retain, and engage staff, and was also aligned to the Council's ambition and priorities, workforce policies and management practices; (2) informing that the Scheme was aligned to national policy drivers, and the Council Climate Plan; (3) indicating that the introduction of a salary sacrifice benefit for employees to participate in an Electric Car Salary Sacrifice Scheme would support colleagues to access the latest green energy car, in line with the Council's Net Zero ambitions while maximising their income, and (4) detailing within the report, and the Appendices to the report, all key considerations for employees, the Council as an employer, and the next steps in the process. Decided: (1) that the work undertaken to ensure that the employee reward package continued to align to the Council's business strategy and priorities, as well as the future workplace ambitions, be noted; (2) that the introduction of the Electric Car Salary Sacrifice Scheme and the link with the ambitions set out in the Climate Plan: ACT 2030 be noted; (3) that it be noted that (a) a robust procurement exercise would be carried out to identify a suitable provider to offer the car scheme benefit, and in line with other salary sacrifice benefits, with all associated risks being managed within the contract; (b) financial elements of the Scheme would be clarified; (c) Trade Unions would be engaged around the enhancements to the overall reward package, and (d) the Council would work towards the launch of the Scheme in early 2023, and (4) that the report be otherwise noted. REVISION OF LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT POLICY 4. The Head of People and Organisational Development provided a verbal update on the revision of the Learning and Development Policy, which would include, and extend access to, the Council’s frontline staff, in line with the Council’s Skills Pledge. Thereon, Marie Quigley, UNISON, advised that, subject to the meeting to be held this week between Council Officers and Trade Union representatives, it was the intention of the joint Trade Unions to sign the “Trade Union Learning Agreement”. Decided: that the report be noted.