12 October 2021 – Minutes

THAME TOWN COUNCIL

Minutes of the Personnel Committee Meeting held on 12 October 2021 at 6:30pm in the Upper Chamber, Thame Town Hall. 

Present:

Cllr Cowell (Town Mayor)
Cllr Champken-Woods (Deputy Mayor)
Cllr Dyer (Chairman of Policy & Resources)
Cllr Dite (Chairman of Community, Leisure & Recreation)
Cllr Fickling (Chairman of Planning & Environment)
Cllr Jones (Chairman of Neighbourhood Plan Continuity)

Officers:

C Pinnells (Acting Town Clerk)
K Slater (Acting RFO / Office Administration Manager)

1 Apologies for Absence

None.

2 Declarations of Interest and Dispensations

There were no declarations of interest or dispensations.

3 Public Participation and Public Questions

There were no applications to address the Committee.
There were no questions put to the Committee.

4 Minutes

The Minutes of the meeting held on 13 August 2021 were approved and signed by the Chairman.

5 Council Policies

Officers had reviewed the three policies and no changes were recommended.

RESOLVED that:

  1. The unchanged Dignity at Work policy, Work Experience policy, and Honorarium policy be approved.

6 Exclusion of the Public

RESOLVED that:

  1. Under Section 1, Paragraph 2 of The Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business because publicity would be prejudicial to the public interest by reason of the confidential nature of the business to be transacted.

7 Staffing Matters

A brief report was provided by the Acting Town Clerk. Members reviewed the C19 Risk Management Assessment, to note that the Management Team with staff reporting to them are currently undertaking Appraisals.  Postponement of the Management Team Appraisals to February was discussed and agreed to enable the Town Clerk to settle into the position.

Further discussion took place with members suggesting wording to enhance the Time Off in Lieu policy. The Acting Town Clerk committed to pass on the recognition of the Personnel Committee to all staff.

Following the promotional recommendation from the Personnel Members to formalize the Acting Financial Officer/Office Administration Manager the appointment has become permanent. 

RESOLVED that:

  1. The C19 Risk Management Assessment revision 14 be approved.
  2. The Staff Appraisal timelines be noted.
  3. The updated Time Off in Lieu Policy be approved.
  4. The RFO/Office Administration Manager position be formalized.

8 Staff Budgets

Members received the report.

The report detailing forecast outturn 2021/22 showed an expected decrease of £24k against the agreed budget due to the net effect of 7 separate underspend / overspend impacts as outlined in the report.

A draft 2022-23 staff cost budget has been prepared, giving a total salary cost of £630,689 an increase of £29,689 against last year’s final budget of £601,000.  These were made up of 6 separate overspends and underspend adjustment.

It should be noted that the three yearly actuarial adjustment to the employer’s pension contribution is due for renewal in 2022, the figures were finalised at the exact same i.e., no increase for the next 3 years at 21.9%.

RESOLVED that:

  1. To note the report.

 

The meeting concluded at  8.45pm

 

Signed …………………………

Chairman

 

Date: 26 October 2021