These are draft minutes that have not yet been approved by the council. The minutes are subject to change and will be confirmed at the next meeting.

P24/025 PRESENT

Councillors Dalzell, Gardiner, Coan and Forrest.

A Keppel-Green (Town Clerk) and Cllr Hartley

 

P24/026 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies were received from Cllrs McCulloch (business) Banks and Mears (personal business)

 

P24/027 DECLARATIONS OF MEMBERS’ INTERESTS

No member declared an interest in any item.

 

P24/028 CONFIRMATION OF PREVIOUS MINUTES

It was RESOLVED to confirm the minutes of the meeting held on the 9th September 2024.

 

P24/029  REVIEW OF YEAR TO DATE INCOME AND EXPENDITURE

The year-to-date income and expenditure was noted.

 

P24/030 STAFF REPRESENTATIVE

The Planning and Facilities Officer addressed the committee speaking in support of the changes to meal and subsistence allowances, noting the time since the allowances were updated and in relation to the revised staffing structure outlining the staff’s support of the process and the perceived sensible evolution of the council’s staffing to reflect a proactive organisation.

 

P24/031 MEAL AND SUBSISTENCE ALLOWANCES

It was RESOLVED to increase the staff Christmas meal subsidy to £33 for 2024 and 2025 and that the value be index linked and adjusted annually for 2026 onwards, and to amend the subsistence allowances in the staff handbook such that it is in the order of £15 for an evening meal and £10 for lunch.

 

P24/032 EMPLOYMENT LAW UPDATES AND PREVENTION OF SEXUAL HARRASSMENT DUTY

The committee noted the changes to Employer National Insurance thresholds and rates from April 2025 and the cost of the changes to the council. The committee further noted various aspects of the announced Employment Rights Bill, the likely timescale for changes and where policy would need to be revised following implementation.

The committee noted the new duty imposed by the Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Act 2023 requiring the council to take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment. It was RESOLVED to approve the revisions to the Dignity at Work policy to reflect the new duty, as presented.

 

P24/033 OUTSTANDING MATTERS LOG

The log was noted and it was noted the revised appraisal processes for the Town Clerk were working well.

 

P24/034 DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING

It was noted that the next scheduled meeting would be held on 3rd March 2025 at 7:30pm.

 

P24/035 REVISED STAFFING STRUCTURE

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.

The committee received a report outlining a revised staffing structure following feedback from the Corporate Peer Challenge process which identified the council’s capacity does not meet its ambition. The revised structure includes the previously agreed creation of a Corporate Support Manager to increase resilience within the council’s corporate administration, and the creation of two new part time positions, the reallocation of some responsibilities, job title amendments and increasing the hours of two part time officers.

It was agreed that it was important to clearly communicate the reasons for the new positions both to the community and prospective applicants.

It was RESOLVED to approve the revised staffing structure and implementation programme.

 

P24/036 STAFF MORALE/WELFARE SURVEY

The results of the 2024 survey were noted and discussed. The Town Clerk reported further on the output of the survey and the actions he planned to take forward to address issues. It was noted a follow up survey would take place in June 2025.

 

P24/037 STAFFING OVERVIEW REPORT

The report was noted and the Town Clerk reported on recent absences and the expected return date for a member of staff ending maternity leave.

 

P24/038  PERSONNEL MATTERS

No matters were raised.