Minute of meeting of 16 June 2025
Perth and Kinross Council · 26 November 2025
Back to Finance and Resources Committee — 26 November 2025 and its agenda
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Perth and Kinross Council Finance and Resources Committee Employees Joint Consultative Committee Minute of hybrid meeting of the Employees Joint Consultative Committee held in the Council Chambers, 2 High Street, Perth on Monday 16 June 2025 at 1.30pm. Present: Representing Perth and Kinross Council: Councillors K Allan, S McCole and J Rebbeck. Present: Representing Trade Unions: K Currie (Unite the Union) (up to and including Item 8) S Topen-Cooper (NASUWT) C Weston (EIS) In Attendance: E Bayne, J Guild, P Johnstone, F MacKay, L McGeorge, L Hamilton, F Thomson and S Turner. Apologies: N Ferry, S Hope, M Mackie and S Robertson. Councillor S McCole in the Chair. 1. Welcome and Apologies Councillor McCole welcomed all present to the meeting and apologies were noted as above. 2. Declarations of Interest There were no declarations of interest made in terms of the Councillors’ Code of Conduct. 3. Minute of Meeting of Employees Joint Consultative Committee of 26 March 2025 The minute of meeting of the Employees Joint Consultative Committee of 26 March 2025 was submitted and approved as a correct record. 4. Matters Arising (i) Fair Work First P Johnstone advised that an exemption has been submitted and approved in relation to Trainee Educational Psychologists who are funded via Scottish Government and are not paid real living wage. P Johnstone advised work continues in conjunction with Unions with a view to achieving a signed agreement for publication online.
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5. Health and Safety Performance Report Quarter 4 2024/25 – January – March 2025 There was a report submitted by the Corporate Health and Safety Team Leader (G/25/74) informing and assisting the Employees Joint Consultative Committee in monitoring health and safety compliance and performance across Perth and Kinross Council and providing an overview of health and safety activities undertaken. In response to a question from S Topen-Cooper regarding medication errors made by staff and whether this is a training error, L Hamilton confirmed all instances are thoroughly looked into and any training requirements addressed. In response to a question from K Currie regarding an example of a medication error, L Hamilton advised this is most often a double dose or missed dose by teams working in clients’ homes. Resolved: The contents of Report G/25/74, be noted. 6. Fire Safety Quarterly Report – Quarter 4 2024/25 – January – March 2025 There was a report submitted by the Corporate Health and Safety Team Leader (G/25/75) informing and assisting the Employees Joint Consultative Committee in monitoring fire safety performance across Perth and Kinross Council and providing an overview of fire safety activities undertaken. Resolved: The contents of Report G/25/75, be noted. 7. Health and Wellbeing Update There was a report submitted by the People and Culture Manager (G/25/76) providing an update on current Health and Wellbeing data and current Health and Wellbeing activities. In response to a question from S Topen-Cooper regarding the Employee Assistance Programme and access for staff out with work, E Bayne confirmed all information is accessible via mobile phone or personal laptop and not exclusively a PKC device. E Bayne added that this is reflected in communications to staff. Resolved: The contents of Report G/25/76, be noted. 8. Staff Reporting: Incidents of Violence/Aggression and incidents of Distressed/Challenging Behaviour in Education Settings – Term 3 2024/25 There was a report submitted by the Service Manager, Inclusion and Additional Support and Inclusion Quality Improvement (G/25/77) informing
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Employees Joint Consultative Committee of the Education Service’s performance in managing and reducing incidents of violence and aggression or distressed and challenging behaviour that have impacted staff in the workplace. The report provides a summary of the information gathered in Term 3 of academic year 2024/2025 in relation to staff reports of incidents in schools and other educational settings which had an emotional or physical impact on them. It also provides information on the activity of an established working group to prevent and reduce the number of incidents. There was a slide-based presentation by S Turner, Principal Educational Psychologist, in relation to Relationships and Behaviour covering the journey so far, individual needs, whole school development, workforce support and development, partnerships, nurturing relationships and areas under development. In response to a question from C Weston regarding partnerships with parents unwilling to engage, S Turner acknowledged that this does make the process more difficult, but staff will endeavour to ensure other positive partnerships are established. In response to a question from S Topen-Cooper regarding work in relation to social, emotional and behavioural needs, F Mackay advised this is an area of priority as part of the ASN transformation work ongoing which will begin from Term 1 of the next session throughout primary and secondary. In response to a question from Councillor McCole regarding consistent messaging throughout all school years, S Turner confirmed it is of importance that the whole school nurturing programme and key interventions cover 2-18 years. S Turner added that the Bounce Back programme has also now been extended into early years of secondary. In response to a question from C Weston regarding a zero tolerance approach, F Mackay confirmed Scottish Government principles are followed to set age appropriate boundaries and expectations. F Mackay continued that further national direction is awaited. Councillor McCole extended her thanks to S Turner for the informative presentation. Resolved: The contents of Report G/25/77, be noted. (K Currie left the meeting at this point.) 9. Leadership Development Activity There was a report submitted by the Resourcing and Change Manager (G/25/78) providing an update to Committee on recent and planned activity designed to develop the skills and knowledge of our current and potential leadership cohort.
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Resolved: The contents of Report G/24/78, be noted and the plans outlined, be endorsed. 10. End Violence at Work Charter There was submitted a report by the Resourcing and Change Manager (G/25/73) to gain agreement to the commitment to the Unison End Violence at Work Charter. In response to a question from S Topen-Cooper whether it is PKC’s intention to adopt a zero-tolerance approach towards violence, Councillor McCole advised national guidance will continue to be followed but the Council’s position can be considered and brought back to a future meeting. Resolved: (i) The requirements of the Unison End Violence at Work Charter and the evidence currently available indicating the Council’s compliance with these, be noted. (ii) The Council’s commitment to the requirements of the Charter, initially on the basis of meeting these in full within 12 months of the date of the meeting, be agreed. 11. Employee Survey Update F Thomson, Resourcing and Change Manager, advised that the next Employee Survey will go live in autumn of this year. A working group is in place with focuses on clarity of instruction to ensure all responses are completed with equal intention, developing similar questions to the last survey to allow trends to be established, and engagement promotion to maximise completion. Resolved: The Committee noted the update. 12. Update to Employees Joint Consultative Committee Constitution There was submitted a report (G/25/79) amending the Employees Joint Consultative Committee Constitution to reflect a change in Elected Member membership from four members to three members, as agreed by Perth and Kinross Council on 5 March 2025. Councillor McCole advised this is a regrettable change and will continue to encourage an appointment with a view to increasing the Membership again in future. Resolved: The updated constitution, be noted.
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13. Any Other Competent Business (i) Supreme Court Ruling P Johnstone advised on the recent Supreme Court Ruling in relation to the Equality Act 2010. P Johnstone confirmed that further updates are awaited from the Equality and Human Rights Commission, but any staff impacted are encouraged to seek additional support as required from HR or PKC’s Equalities Team Lead. 14. Date of Next Meeting Wednesday 17 September at 1.30pm in Room 410, 2 High Street, Perth.