Minutes of meeting
Renfrewshire Council · 21 November 2024
Back to Joint Consultative Board (Non-Teaching) — 21 November 2024 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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Minute of Meeting Joint Consultative Board (Non-Teaching) Date Time Venue Thursday, 21 November 2024 15:00 Via Teams Platform, Present Councillor Fiona Airlie-Nicolson, Councillor Audrey Doig, Councillor Chris Gilmour, Councillor Lisa-Marie Hughes, Councillor Sam Mullin. Representing Trades Unions S Hicks, B Fallon, M McIntyre, D Kent and D Clark (all UNISON); and G Cochrane (UNITE). In Attendance L Cameron, Operations Manager (Locality Teams) Renfrewshire Health & Social Care Partnership; C Dalrymple, Head of Facilities & Property Services, (Environment, Infrastructure and Housing); R Cree, Head of People & Organisational Development, R Laouadi, HR Manager, S Fanning, Strategic Lead Partner (Health & Safety), and J Barron, Committee Services Officer (all Finance & Resources). Appointment of Chairperson In accordance with the terms of the constitution of the Joint Consultative Board (Non- Teaching), which stated that the Chair of the Board should alternate between the management-side and the trade unions it was proposed and agreed that Steven Hicks (UNISON) chair this meeting of the JCB (Non-Teaching). DECIDED: That Steven Hicks (UNISON) chair the meeting. Apology M Ferguson (UNISON).
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Declaration of Interest There were no declarations of interest intimated prior to the commencement of the meeting. Transparency Statement Councillor Gilmour indicated that he had a connection to items 1, 2 and 3 of the agenda by reason of his membership of the union UNITE. However, he indicated that he had applied the objective test and did not consider he had an interest to declare. Councillor Mullin indicated that he had a connection to items 1, 2 and 3 of the agenda by reason of his membership of the union GMB. However, he indicated that he had applied the objective test and did not consider he had an interest to declare. Councillor Hughes indicated that she had a connection to items 1, 2 and 3 of the agenda by reason of her membership of the union Unison. However, she indicated that she had applied the objective test and did not consider she had an interest to declare. 1 Health, Safety and Wellbeing Activities There was submitted a report by the Director of Finance & Resources relative to developments in relation to health, safety and wellbeing issues since the previous meeting of the Joint Consultative Board (Non-Teaching), held on 19 September 2024. The Strategic Lead Partner (Health & Safety) gave an update regarding lithium batteries, in addidtion he advised that Renfrewshire Council had been named the “Best Organisation for Carer Identification” at the recent Carer Positive Awards. Responses to queries on Ren Talks attendances and Mental Health First Aiders were provided. DECIDED: (a) That the report be noted; and (b) That information on the number of attendees at the Ren Talks be submitted to the next meeting of the JCB (Non Teaching) to be held on 13 February 2025. 2 Details of Grievances There was submitted a report by the Director of Finance & Resources relative to the number of grievances received. The report provided information on grievances at both the informal and formal stages and indicated that there were a total of 9 grievances as at September 2024, an decrease of five cases since the last meeting of this Board in September 2024. DECIDED: That the report be noted.
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3 Agency Workers There was submitted a report by the Director of Finance & Resources relative to the number of agency staff employed within the Council as at November 2024 and which detailed the capacity and Services in which they were engaged. The report advised that as at 31 October 2024, 142 agency workers were employed across all Council Services, an increase of 31 agency workers since August 2024. Renfrewshire Health & Social Care Partnership employed 74 of those agency workers. The HR Manager was heard in answer to questions on the report and was requested to bring further information on the breakdown of numbers relative to posts, staff and vacancies information to the next meeting of the Joint Consultative Board (Non Teaching) to be held on 13 February 2025. DECIDED: (a) That the report be noted; and (b) That further information regarding the breakdown of numbers relative to posts, staff and vacancies information be submitted to the next meeting of the JCB (Non Teaching) to be held on 13 February 2025. 4 Timetable of Meetings for 2025 There was submitted a report by the Director of Finance & Resources relative to the proposed timetable of JNC (Non Teaching) meetings for 2025. The report advised that the current constitution of the Joint Consultative Board (Non Teaching) stipulated the frequency of meetings of the Board, currently requiring the Board to meet no less than five times per year. Following discussion with representatives of the management side and the trade union representatives it was proposed that meetings of the JCB (Non Teaching) be held on 13 February, 3 April, 12 June, 11 September and 20 November 2025. It was agreed that all future meetings of the JCB Non-Teaching start at 3 pm. DECIDED: (a) That the proposed timetable for the JCB (Non Teaching) meeting dates for 2025, detailed in the report, be approved; and (b) That it be noted that future meetings of the JCB (Non Teaching) would start at 3 pm. Order of Business The Chair intimated that he proposed to add an item to the agenda in relation to the proposed change to Public Holidays and would consider the item after item 4 on the agenda.
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5 2025 Public Holidays for Local Government Employees In response to a question regarding 2025 public holidays for Local Government employees, S Hicks advised that Unison would continue discussions with Officers during 2025 regarding proposed changes to public holidays in 2026 as timescales had been too short to make changes to the 2025 public holidays. DECIDED: That it be noted that discussions would continue between unions and officers in 2025 regarding proposed changes to public holidays in 2026. 6 Date of Next Meeting DECIDED: That it be noted that the next meeting of the JCB (Non-Teaching) would be held at 3pm on 13 February 2025 via the Teams platform.