Minute of Meeting of Joint Consultative Committee for Local Government Employees dated 13 June 2023
North Lanarkshire Council · 13 September 2023
Back to Finance and Resources Committee — 13 September 2023 and its agenda
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JOINT CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES - 13 JUNE 2023 1 13 June 2023 at 2 pm. A Meeting of the JOINT CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES PRESENT Councillor Boyd, Vice-Convener; Councillors Currie, Jarvie and Smith. D. Whelan, GMB, and J. Rooney and V. Thompson, Unite (T & G). CHAIR Councillor Boyd (Vice-Convener) presided. IN ATTENDANCE Chief Officer (People Resources); Employee Service Centre Manager, Employment and Policy Manager, and Administrative Officer, Legal and Democratic. ALSO IN ATTENDANCE B. Rankin, GMB. APOLOGIES Councillors Ballinger, Barclay, Brannan-McVey, Duffy, and Logue, and M. Quigley, J. Hannigan, W. Shearer and J. Watson, 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 SEXUAL HARASSMENT POLICY, MENOPAUSE AND HORMONAL CHANGE POLICY, AND DISABILITY IN EMPLOYMENT POLICY 2. There was submitted a report by the Chief Officer (People Resources) (1) informing that three new policies were being introduced which would enable employees to continue to receive support to allow them to work in a safe and healthy environment whilst aiming to promote the Council as an employer of choice; (2) advising (a) that the Council was working towards providing standalone policies in respect of Sexual Harassment and Menopause and Hormonal Change, and (b) that the new policies would enhance the current provisions available, further help to protect employees from unwanted sexual advances and inappropriate conduct, and make sure that the correct procedures and support were in place to help staff affected by the menopause or any form of hormonal change; (3) intimating that consultation would be undertaken with Trade Unions prior to the policies being finalised, and (4) indicating that, following a request from the Trade Unions, a standalone Disability in Employment Policy was being developed, which would be issued to the Trade Unions for comment prior to being finalised.
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JOINT CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES - 13 JUNE 2023 2 Decided: (1) that the proposal to introduce three new policies be noted; (2) that the implementation of the policies be supported; (3) that the intention to develop a standalone Disability and Employment Policy be noted, and (4) that the report be otherwise noted. CORE CONDITIONS – HIGHER DUTIES GUIDANCE NOTE AND CHANGES TO APPROVAL PROCESS FOR OVERTIME 3. There was submitted a report by the Chief Officer (People Resources) regarding proposals to introduce a Higher Duties Guidance Note for Single Status Employees and changes to the approval process for overtime; (1) outlining the background to the existing Higher Duties Guidance Note and the current process for approving overtime; (2) advising (a) that the revised Guidance Note on Higher Duties would provide managers with a consistent approach to the application of higher duties and the flexibility required to ensure a stable workforce at all times, particularly with front line services, and (b) that there would be no requirement to change the Core Conditions of Service; (3) intimating that the changes to the approval process would be more reflective of the current practices and structure of the Council, and (4) informing that the revised Higher Duties Guidance Note, and the amended Core Conditions, would be issued to the Trade Unions for comment before being submitted to the Corporate Management Team and, thereafter, the final version would be issued to all managers, and made available on MyNL for employees. Decided: (1) that the proposals to revise the Higher Duties Guidance Note, and to amend the Council’s Core Conditions of Service, be noted, and (2) that the report be otherwise noted.