Agenda and minutes

To consider any appeals in accordance with Procedure Rule 25 of the Access to Information Procedure Rules (in the event of an appeal the press and public will be excluded).

(*In accordance with Procedure Rule 25, written notice of an appeal must be received by the Chief Democratic Services Officer at least 24 hours before the meeting)

There were no appeals against the refusal of inspection of documents.

1  To highlight reports or appendices which officers have identified as containing exempt information, and where officers consider that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information, for the reasons outlined in the report.

2   To consider whether or not to accept the officers recommendation in respect of the above information.

3   If so, to formally pass the following resolution:-

RESOLVED – That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following parts of the agenda designated as containing exempt information on the grounds that it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the press and public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information, as follows:-

The Committee considered the designation of Appendix 2 and 3 to Agenda item 7 (minute 16 refers) as exempt under the Access to Information Procedure Rule 10.4 (5).

RESOLVED – That the exemption applied to Appendix 2 and 3 to Agenda Item 7 be maintained and as a consequence the public be excluded from the discussion of the item.

To identify items which have been admitted to the agenda by the Chair for consideration

(The special circumstances shall be specified in the minutes)

In accordance with his powers under Section 100 B (4) (b) of the Local Government Act 1972, the Chair admitted late supplementary information in relation to PRP schemes for Refuse Collectors (See Agenda Item 7, minute No.16).

To declare any personal/prejudicial interests for the purpose of Section 81(3) of the Local Government Act 2000 and paragraphs 8 to 12 of the Members’ Code of Conduct.

No declarations of interest were made either under this item or at any stage during the meeting.

To receive any apologies for absence from the meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Taggart and Councillor Finnigan.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes held on 28^th June 2010.

RESOLVED  - That the minutes of the General Purposes Committee meeting held on 28^th June 2010 be approved as a correct record.

To receive a report of the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods and Director of Resources seeking the Committee’s agreement in principle to a PRP scheme for refuse collectors.

(LATE ITEM  - REPORT TO FOLLOW)

The Director of Resources and Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods presented their report which introduced the criteria by which potential Performance Related Pay (PRP) schemes within the Council should be assessed. The report updated the Committee on progress with the implementation of a PRP scheme for the Refuse Collection service and sought authorisation for the Director of Resources to finalise the scheme before it’s introduction.  The report also informed the Committee of other work being done to look at implementing PRP schemes in other parts of the Council.

Following the introduction of the item. the Committee agreed that members of the public should be excluded so that Appendix 2 and 3 could be discussed in conjunction with the rest of the report. At this stage further confidential information updating the Committee on the latest developments was distributed.

Members discussed the report and its appendices in detail in particular they considered all the options available to the Council for remunerating refuse collectors and the implications associated with them.

Members considered the future recruitment of refuse collectors and the need for job descriptions to be clear that the work of refuse collecting is suitable for both women and men.

RESOLVED – Members of the General Purposes Committee resolved to:

·  note that further work is being done to identify the potential introduction of PRP schemes in other areas of the Council’s workforce;

·  note the criteria set out at Appendix 1 to the report as the criteria by which PRP schemes considered for introduction within the Council are assessed;

·  support the introduction of a PRP scheme within the Refuse Collection service provided that it meets the criteria set out at Appendix 1 to the report and subject to consideration of further financial information to be provided by the Director of Resources.

·  to convene a further emergency meeting following the provision of Director of Resource’s further information to the group leaders.

To receive a report of the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods presenting proposals to change the ward composition of two area committees.

The Chief Regeneration Officer presented a report of The Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods which proposed to change the ward composition of two area committees. The report considered that by doing so anomalies in  the demographic and socio economic profiles of the current committees in the North West of the city could be resolved. The changes proposed aimed to produce committees composed of wards with comparable profiles.

Members discussed the extent of work done to consult both the public and the members of the wards affected by the proposed changes and concluded that further work needed to be done with regards to this.

RESOLVED – Members of the General Purposes Committee resolved to withdraw the item.

To receive a report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Corporate Governance) asking General Purposes Committee to recommend that full Council approves an amendment to Council Procedure Rule 11.6 (Expiry of Question Time).

The Principal Corporate Governance Officer (Corporate Governance) presented a report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Corporate Governance). The report proposed an amendment to Council Procedure Rule 11.6 ‘Expiry of Question Time’ to allow that at the close of question time, the question in progress will be dealt with in full, including the asking and response to any supplementary question.

RESOLVED  -  Members of the General Purposes Committee resolved to recommend to full Council to approve the amendment  to Council Procedure Rule 11.6 as detailed in the Appendix to the report.

To receive a report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Corporate Governance) notifying and inviting comment from the Committee upon the work programme for the municipal year.

The Assistant Chief Executive (Corporate Governance) submitted a report notifying members of the draft work programme for the 2010/11 municipal year.

RESOLVED  - Members resolved to agree that the draft work programme for 2010/11 be noted.