P26/001 PRESENT
Councillors Dalzell, Gardiner, Forrest, Mears and McCulloch
A Keppel-Green (Town Clerk) and Cllr Johnson.
P26/002 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies were received from Cllrs Banks and Coan (personal business)
P26/003 DECLARATIONS OF MEMBERS’ INTERESTS
In the spirit of openness and transparency, Cllr Gardiner declared that he was referred to by name in correspondence from staff having been involved in matters in his capacity as Deputy Chair of the committee.
P26/004 TERMS OF REFERENCE
The committee terms of reference were noted.
P26/005 CONFIRMATION OF PREVIOUS MINUTES
It was RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the meeting held 5th May.
P26/006 REVIEW OF YEAR TO DATE INCOME AND EXPENDITURE
The income and expenditure year to date was noted.
The Town Clerk reported that the HMRC mileage rate had been increased from 45p to 55p per mile with effect 1st April and that this would affect the mileage costs budget line.
P26/007 STAFF REPRESENTATIVE
The Events Officer / Community Engagement Officer spoke advising that the suggested revision to TOIL/Flex policy was well received by most staff with a preference of not using banked staff where possible for team development and wellbeing and that most staff prefer to take time back rather than be paid for it.
P26/008 TOIL/FLEX ACCRUED DELIVERING EVENTS
It was RESOLVED to approve the revisions to the flex policy outlined in report P-26-01.
P26/009 DISCIPLINARY POLICY
It was RESOLVED to approve the revised policy subject to typographical corrections and rewording of the section in relation to suspension, the revised wording of which would be reviewed by the Chair and Deputy Chair.
P26/010 PATERNITY LEAVE POLICY
It was RESOLVED to approve the policy revisions detailed in report P-26-03.
P26/011 POLICY IN RESPECT OF COUNCILLOR CONDUCT
It was RESOLVED to:
- approve the informal resolution procedure, subject to any view provided by the Monitoring Officer
- recommend to Full Council that it adopt an updated code of conduct for councillors
P26/012 OUTSTANDING ACTIONS AND PROJECT UPDATES REPORT
The report was noted.
P26/013 COMMITTEE WORKPLAN
The workplan was noted.
P26/014 DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING
It was noted that the next scheduled meeting would be held on 14th September 2026 at 7:30pm.
P26/015 CONFIDENTIAL STAFFING MATTERS
It was RESOLVED to exclude the public and press on the grounds that publicity would be prejudicial to the public interest by reason of the confidential nature of the business to be transacted.
Cllr Johnson left the meeting.
It was RESOLVED to undertake the action recorded in confidential annex to the minutes reference P26/001-A
It was RESOLVED to undertake the action recorded in confidential annex to the minutes reference P26/001-B
It was RESOLVED to commission CHRGS to undertake a salary evaluation of the Town Clerk’s post.
P26/016 STAFFING OVERVIEW REPORT
The report was noted.
P26/017 PERSONNEL MATTERS
The Town Clerk reported on applications and initial interviews for the Tourism and Marketing Officer vacancy.