Agenda and minutes

To receive any declaration of interest from any Member or Officer in respect of any item of business.

Declarations of personal interest were made in respect of Item 5 Job Evaluation Implementation and Equal Pay as noted below.  Those Members who declared and interest were allowed to take part in discussions and voting voting thereon :-

Councillors Lewis Davies, Jeff M. Evans, T.Ll. Hughes, T. Victor Hughes,

Llinos M. Huws, H. Eifion Jones, R.Ll. Jones, Alun W. Mummery, Bob Parry OBE, J. Arwel Roberts, Nicola Roberts, Dafydd R. Thomas, Ieuan Williams.

The Chair made the following announcements :-

·           Congratulations was extended to all those who were successful in the Royal Welsh Show, Anglesey Agricultural Show and also the National Eisteddfod.

·           Congratulations were extended to secondary schools pupils who succeeded in their GCSE’s and ‘A’ Level examinations.  The Chair wished them well for the future and every success to those who will be going to college.

·           Congratulations to Council staff who have succeeded in examinations and who have gained qualifications in their relevant fields.

·           Also, congratulations to those who competed in the Island Games held recently in Jersey.

·           As everybody is aware, the National Eisteddfod will be held in the Bodedern area in two years.  The first fund raising activity will be held in Holyhead on 12 September and there will be an opportunity to hear from competitors from Anglesey who participated in the successful Eisteddfod in Meifod this year.

·           The Chairman’s Sunday Service will be held on Sunday, 11 October, 2015 at 2.00 p.m, in Rhos y Gad Chapel, Llanfairpwll.

·           The Chair referred to the death of the wife of the former Councillor Gwyn Roberts from Penysarn.  He extended his sympathy to the family on behalf of the County Council and to any Member or Officer who has suffered a bereavement recently.  Members and Officers stood as a mark of respect.

To submit any petition in accordance with Paragraph 4.1.11 of the Constitution.

The Chief Executive reported that a petition had been received with 2,440 signatures from 38 schools.  He noted that not all those who had signed the petition are employed within the schools.

To consider adoption of the following:-

“Under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, to exclude the press and public from meeting during discussion on the following item on the grounds that it may involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Schedule 12A of the said Act and in the attached Public Interest Test”.

RESOLVED to adopt the following :-

“Under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, to exclude the press and public  from the meeting during discussion on the following item on the grounds that it may involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Schedule 12A of the said Act and in the attached Public Interest Test.”

1.  To submit the report of the Head of Profession (Human Resources) in response to a request from the Plaid Cymru Group to convene an Extraordinary County Council meeting to consider the impact of implementing Single Status and Equal Pay on some staff.

2.  To submit the report of the Head of Profession (Human Resources) on legal issues in relation to Job Evaluation and Equal Pay implementation together with an advice note from our Legal Representatives.

·           Submitted – the report of the Head of Profession – Human Resources in response to a request from the Plaid Cymru Group to convene an Extraordinary County Council meeting to consider the impact of implementing Single Status and Equal Pay on some staff.

The Chief Executive highlighted the main issue contained within the report to the Members of the County Council and the recommendations of the full County Council held on 14th May, 2015.

The Head of Profession – Human Resources gave an in-depth presentation to the County Council on Single Status and Equal Pay.

The Leader of the Plaid Cymru Group explained the reason why the Plaid Cymru Group had requested an Extraordinary Meeting of the County Council and the impact of the job evaluation process on staff.

Members were afforded a questions and answer session.

It was RESOLVED to accept the report.

•     Submitted – the report of the Head of Profession – Human Resources on the legal issues in relation to Job Evaluation and Equal Pay implementation. An Advice Note by the County Council’s legal representatives was attached to the report.

The Chair invited Mrs. Kim Howells and Mrs. Lowri Phillips from Geldards LLP to the meeting. Mrs. Howells gave a comprehensive presentation to the County Council in respect of the implementation strategy in relation to the Single Status programme.

Following a question and answer session it was RESOLVED to :-

• That the Council takes the steps of proposing to compulsorily extend the application of the new Single Status terms and conditions and pay and grading structure to all employees who have not, as at the date of issuing the s.188 letter, agreed voluntarily to the changes, by terminating their existing contracts of employment and offering re-engagement on the new Single Status terms and conditions, provided that for any school-based staff this is limited to schools where the Governing Body has resolved to adopt the Single Status proposals;

• That the draft s.188 letter be finalised by the Implementation Team and issued to the three recognised Trade Unions as soon as possible confirming the commencement of the collective consultation period;

• That the Implementation Team continue to negotiate with any Governing Bodies who have not yet resolved to adopt the Single Status proposal with a view to encouraging them to adopt the proposals;

• That the Implementation Team be required to continue dialogue with the three Trade unions with a view to reaching agreement with the appropriate representatives on ways of :-

• avoiding the dismissals;

• reducing the number of employees to be dismissed; and

• mitigating the consequences of the dismissals.

• That the Implementation Team continues to make efforts to encourage affected employees to agree to the Single Status terms, on the same voluntary terms as approved previously by Council, in order to minimise the number of staff who may ultimately be provided with notice of dismissal;

• That the Chief Executive or his delegated representative be given delegated responsibility for managing any  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.