Agenda and minutes

Venue: Ascot and Bray - Town Hall

Contact: David Cook  01628 796560

Items
No. Item

260.

Apologies for Absence

To receive any apologies for absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Dudley, Cllr Hilton attended as a substitute and from Cllr Werner, Cllr Baldwin attended as a substitute.

261.

Declarations of Interest pdf icon PDF 219 KB

To receive any declarations of interest

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest received.

262.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 51 KB

To consider the minutes of the meeting held on 9 July 2019.

Minutes:

Resolved unanimously: that the minutes of the meeting held on 9 July be approved subject to Cllr Del Campo be recorded as Cllr Catherine Del Campo in line with the other councillors.

263.

Report on the Committee on Standards in Public Life - Best Practice pdf icon PDF 125 KB

To consider the report.

Minutes:

The Panel considered the report regarding the best practice for councillor standards in public life.

 

The Monitoring Officer informed members that in January 2019 the Committee on Standards in Public Life published a report on the review carried out of the current national standard arrangements for Councillors.  The report contained a set of best practice arrangements and suggested that each local authority compare its current arrangements against the list.  These are set out in the Appendix to this report.

 

The report recommended that the Panel noted the report and recommended that the Monitoring Officer, in consultation with the Chairman of the Panel, makes suggested changes to the Council’s Code of Conduct and complaints process.  These changes would then be brought to another Panel meeting prior to any changes to the constitution.

 

Cllr Hilton asked if there were more complaints then there used to be and questioned the statements that with regards to Disclosable Pecuniary Interests there could be criminal offences.  The Panel were informed that there had only been one Cllr nationally prosecuted under the Localism Act pecuniary interest offence, a Cllr Flower from Dorset.  With regards to complaints this was dealt with in the next agenda item, however over the last 18 month there had been an increase in complaints mainly due to the local elections and an increase in new Cllrs who may not be aware of the guidelines about social media.

 

Cllr Jones mentioned that with regards to social media it was very easy for a Cllr to be involved in a conversation they had no intention of doing or being accused of not engaging. 

 

Cllr Del Campo questioned that for code of conduct complaints when were they published and asked about the review process and member involvement.  The Panel were informed that before a decision was made everything was treated as confidential and the only sanctions under the code was to publish a decision notice on the website.  With regards to reviewing complaints as Members owned the councils code of conduct it would be for Members to decide if they were going to be part of the process.

 

Cllr Bateson asked who our Independent Person was and was informed he was Mr Peter Frank Hills.

 

Cllr Del Campo suggested that the nature of the consultation on any complaints should be included within the report to show that there was no political bias. 

 

Cllr Jones mentioned that she had already raised concern about members being involved in the evaluation process unless the was representation from different parties. We needed to ensure there would be no bias. 

 

Cllr Baldwin mentioned that a cllr may have a history of complaints made against them that were not investigated after the initial stage, knowing a history built up a pattern that would help with the decision making process.  The Panel were informed that there may be an instance were a Cllr had made comments on social media prior to being elected and thus they should not be taken into account when  ...  view the full minutes text for item 263.

264.

Update on Code of Complaints and Feedback pdf icon PDF 47 KB

To consider the report.

Minutes:

The Panel considered the report that provided information about Code of

Conduct complaints for the last year, as well as an update on current Code of

Conduct complaints.

 

The Panel were informed that there were currently 9 code of conduct complaints under investigation, the majority of them related to comments on social media.   There had been poor relationships between some members that had resulted in complaints.

 

Cllr Coppinger asked why a cllr had been named within the appendices whilst others had not and asked if complaints were also passed to the group leaders.  In response the Panel were informed that the Cllr had been named as a decision had been made and published on the RBWM website.  Party leaders were informed of complaints when consent was given. 

 

The Chairman mentioned that as there seemed to be a issue with Datchet Parish Council could there be any mediation and she noted that last year only three of the complaints investigated were seen as breaches of the code.   The Panel were informed that there had been a number of issues with Datchet Parish Council that would be brought to the standards panel.

 

Cllr Hilton felt that making a complaint should not be too easy as there should be a minimal level of information provided, however there was a balance that it also should not be too difficult to complain.

 

Cllr Hilton also suggested that we should consider training and have a guide for social media.  Members were informed that any ideas for training should go to the Service Lead for Governance and that there was guidance available for members on the use of social media.

 

Cllr Jones mentioned that as that as a group leader she tried to encourage her members to bring complaints to her first to see if they can be resolved before becoming formal complaints.

 

Resolved unanimously: that the Employment and Member Standards Panel:

 

      I.        Notes the report and considers any issues arising.

    II.        Resolves that a report with an update on Code of Conduct complaints is

brought to the Panel every six months.

265.

Staff Survey 2019 pdf icon PDF 172 KB

To consider the report.

Minutes:

The Panel considered the report that detailed the results of the 2019 staff survey.

 

Members were informed that a temperature check survey was carried out biannually with the full survey running on alternative years.  In July 2019 a temperature check survey was conducted.  The questions asked were the same as those asked at the last temperature check survey in 2017 as the full survey questions had also remained static.

 

Staff members could undertake the survey online or on paper and there had been a 60.95% response rate compared to 52.38% for the full survey in 2018.   Page 26 of the agenda pack, paragraph 2.3 detailed the six statements employees were asked to rate between strongly agree to strongly disagree, they were:

 

·           My work gives me a sense of personal achievement

·           I am given opportunities for personal and professional development

·           My manager visibly demonstrates the CREATE values

·           The senior leadership team have a plan that I believe in

·           I feel proud to work for the council

·           The council provides a great service to our residents

 

Overall results were positive as shown in image 1 and table 1 on agenda pack page27.  Table 2 on page 28 showed a year on year comparison.  Whilst the full survey questions were greater in number, they had been grouped in the theme of the temperature check so that comparisons could be made.  In all cases, there had been a positive increase in percentage points.

 

Although overall the survey results were positive there were areas that required improvement with the lowest score remaining around leadership.  This has been a focus for 2019 with better visibility of the senior leadership team and further improving communication on the direction of the council including actions detailed in paragraph 3.2 that included:

 

·           Communicating messages from Corporate Leadership Team meetings

·           Continued work with Employee Ambassadors to engage with staff

·           All staff meetings, held on a bi-annual basis

 

Other areas that required improvement was personal development that, whilst much improved, scored within the amber range, that meant a focus on improving training and development opportunities for employees  and better utilisation of the apprenticeship levy, cross team working and opportunities for mentoring. 

 

Work was done at comparing the results with those of Optalis and Achieving for Children but the question sets and format were very different, so doing a direct comparison was not possible.

 

A number of future actions had been identified including a middle managers forum where those mid level employees had the chance to network and share ideas. The corporate leadership team were to be more visible starting with them facilitating all staff sessions from October onwards to review values and behaviours and look at general experience of working for the council.

 

Members were informed that the next  full survey was scheduled for July 2020.

Cllr Jones mentioned that the report showed that there had been a marked increase in staff voicing complaints about working location and office space and she felt that this should have improved as most office moves  ...  view the full minutes text for item 265.

266.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1972 - EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC

To consider passing the following resolution:-

 

“That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting whilst discussion takes place on items 8 on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1-7 of part I of Schedule 12A of the Act"

Minutes:

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local

Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting whilst discussion takes place on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1-7 of part I of Schedule 12A of the Act.

 

Resolved Unanimously: that the Part II minutes of the meeting held on 9 July 2019 be approved.

267.

Minutes

To consider the Part II minutes of the meeting held on 9 July 2019.