Issue - meetings

To seek Council’s approval for revised HR Policies (report of the Assistant Director – Corporate enclosed).

Consideration was given to the report of the Assistant Director – Corporate which sought Council’s approval for revised HR Policies.

DECISION:

That the HR polices appended to the report be approved.

To seek the Policy Development Panel’s views on the proposed HR Policies (Batch 3) prior to a report to Council (report of the Assistant Director – Corporate enclosed). 

Consideration was given to the report of the Assistant Director – Corporate to seek the Policy Development Panel’s views on the proposed HR Policies (Batch 3) prior to a report to Council.

The Organisational Improvement and Development Service Manager introduced the item by stating that the overall review of HR policies remained on schedule and that Batches 1 and 2 previously considered by the Policy Development Panel had been implemented. Batch 3 would progress to full Council on 23 November 2022 subject to feedback received at the current meeting.

In line with Batches 1 and 2, the policies had been drafted by the PSPS HR team for legal checks and subsequently reviewed by an internal Policy Readers Panel which included staff and Union representatives. The policies had also been reviewed and supported by the Senior Leadership Team, recognised regional Union colleagues and the Portfolio Holder.

Batch 3 included the following ‘family friendly’ policies:

• Adoption Policy;
• Maternity Policy;
• Paternity Policy; and
• Shared Parental Leave Policy

The table at page 49 of the report highlighted the key differences between the current policies and the proposed policies.

The Panel considered the report and made the following comments:

• Members asked for the formatting and layout of the policies to be reviewed/consistent for ease of reference.
  • The Organisational Improvement and Development Service Manager responded that formatting feedback had been submitted to HR which would be reflected in the final edit going forward to Council.

• Members asked whether the policies had been compared with relevant Local Government Association (LGA) models.
  • The Organisational Improvement and Development Service Manager responded that during the review of HR policies, research had been undertaken with:
    • the Local Government Association (LGA);
    • the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD);
    • UNISON and GMB unions; and
    • latest case law.

• Members asked whether the reviews were progressing at a similar pace at Boston Borough Council (BBC) and East Lindsey District Council (ELDC).
  • The Organisational Improvement and Development Service Manager confirmed the HR policy reviews across the S&ELCP were at the same stage. The schedule of the reviews had considered the varied decision-making processes across sovereign councils of the S&ELCP to ensure simultaneous alignment could be achieved.

• Members sought clarification of a timeline for the review of the remaining HR policies.
  • The Organisational Improvement and Development Service Manager confirmed that Batches 4 and 5 were planned to come forward to the 13 December 2022 Policy Development Panel meeting. A final Batch 6 was scheduled for May 2023 but may be brought forward to be approved during the current administration.
• Members stated that it would be beneficial for Batch 6 to be implemented during the current administration.

• Members noted that the HR Policies were not yet listed on the policy registers.

The Senior Change and Performance Business Partner stated that the HR policies would be added to the policy registers at the next update.

AGREED:

That, following consideration of the Policies, the comments of the Panel be noted.