Minutes of meeting
Renfrewshire Council · 13 February 2025
Back to Joint Consultative Board (Non-Teaching) — 13 February 2025 and its agenda
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Minute of Meeting Joint Consultative Board (Non-Teaching) Date Time Venue Thursday, 13 February 2025 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 M Ferguson and S Hicks (both UNISON); G Cochrane (UNITE); and G McIntosh (GMB). In Attendance C Dalrymple, Head of Facilities & Property Services, (Environment, Infrastructure & Housing); R Cree, Head of People & Organisational Development, R Laouadi, HR Manager, S Fanning, Strategic Lead Partner (Health & Safety), J Barron, Committee Services Officer and D Cunningham, Committee Services & Licensing 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 Councillor Audrey Doig chair this meeting of the JCB (Non-Teaching). DECIDED: That Councillor Audrey Doig chair the meeting.
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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 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. 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. 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 21 November 2024. The Strategic Lead Partner (Health & Safety) were heard in response to questions on the report, it was advised that there were 83 mental health first aiders. DECIDED: (a) That the report be noted; and (b) That information on the number of mental health first aiders be noted. Sederunt Councillor Mullen joined the meeting prior the follow item of business, and at this point 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 that he had an interest to declare. 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 10 grievances as at February 2025, an increase of one case since the last meeting of this Board in November 2024.
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The HR Manager was heard in response to questions on the report. DECIDED: That the report be noted. 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 of December 2024 and which detailed the capacity and Services in which they were engageThe HR Manager and Head of Facilities & Property Services were heard in response to questions on the report. The introduction of robotic cleaners within schools was discussed. The Head of Facilities & Property Services advised that these were an addition to assist current staff as they provided additional cleaning hours in schools, they were not a replacement to filling vacant posts, and that a meeting would take place between Managers and Unions shortly to discuss the introduction of this new technology. DECIDED: (a) That the report be noted; and (b) That a meeting would be convened between Managers and Unions regarding the introduction of robotic cleaners, which were to assist staff and not to replace the filling of vacant posts. 4 Date of Next Meeting DECIDED: That it be noted that the next meeting of the JCB (Non-Teaching) would be held at 3pm on 3 April 2025 via the Teams platform.