Issue - meetings

(a)       That the project update be noted; and

(b)       That the Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development

send a reminder to Members about the workshops scheduled for 17^th, 24^th and 26^th July 2012. 

The Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development introduced a report to provide a project update and reassurance report on the delivery of the Single Status and Equal Pay projects.

            The Single Status Project Board had met on 15 December 2011 and had agreed a timetable for completion of the project, with a target implementation date of November 2012.  The Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development highlighted that additional Governance arrangements had been introduced since the Project Board meeting in December to support the effective delivery of the project through to implementation, to make key project decisions, and to manage risks.  The activities which were nearing completion to prepare for pay modelling and to inform the proposed collective agreement ready for formal negotiations with the Joint Trade Unions were detailed.  She highlighted pay, Part 3 Terms & Conditions and Equal Pay potential liability, and reported on progress.   Workshops for Members had been scheduled for 17^th, 24^th and 26^th of July and it was agreed that the Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development would send a reminder to Members to attend. 

            The Chief Executive said that working in partnership with the Trade Unions on pay and grading model options was on-going, and that negotiations with the unions were underway on Part 3 Terms and Conditions.  He said that when details were available, meetings would be held with Members as all would need to be briefed, confident and assured that the proposals were acceptable, affordable and legal. 

            The Leader of the Council said that it was important that Members were kept up to date of the progress being made and that they were given an overview of why there was a need to undertake the project, which was a significant challenge.  He reminded Members that at the meeting of County Council held in November 2009, it had been unanimously resolved by Members that the project should be stopped pending further work; he said that the project crossed both past and present Council ‘administrations’.  It was important that Group Leaders played a role in going forward and the Leader commented on the excellent work which had been undertaken to date.  He added that the pay modelling was critical to affordability and the acceptability by Members and staff but said that there were opportunities for the lowest paid staff to receive a decent reward for the work that they did.  The Chief Executive responded that work was ongoing on the pay and grading model and reiterated that it was important that the pay model must be affordable.    

            Councillor I. Dunbar referred to paragraph 3.04 and asked for further information on ‘sore thumbs’; the Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development provided a detailed explanation.  The Chief Executive said that both Unions and Management had identified jobs in the ‘sore thumbs’ exercise which on the face of it were not comparable  to similar jobs and were in need of specific review. 

            Councillor R.G. Hampson asked if consultants were still in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10