Agenda and minutes

15.1     RESOLVED – that the minutes of the previous meeting of the Committee held on 5 September 2017 by confirmed as a correct record

16.1     A copy of the reports referred to below is included in the minute book.

17.1     An apology for absence was received from Councillor Simmons. It was noted that Councillor Bennett was substituting for Councillor Simmons

Disclosures by all members present of personal interests in matters on the agenda, the nature of any interest and whether the member regards the interest as prejudicial under the terms of the Code of Conduct.

18.1     Councillor Godfrey Daniel declared a personal non prejudicial interest in item 5 (Employment Appeal Panel – Member Appeal Hearings) as a retired member of the GMB.

Report by Chief Operating Officer

19.1     The Committee considered a report by the Chief Operating Officer regarding the proposed discontinuance of the Employment Appeal Panel.

19.2     The following amendment moved by Councillor Tutt and seconded was LOST.

‘To approve the amendment of the Grievance and Workplace Conflict Policy, Disciplinary Policy, Attendance Management Policy and Procedure, and the Procedure for the Management of Unacceptable Performance (delete) [to replace]  (insert) [to have] the right of appeal against dismissal (insert) [heard by] (delete) [to] (delete) [an] (insert) [a dedicated] Employment Appeal Panel (delete) [with a right of appeal to a senior officer at Assistant Director level or above]

19.3     The Committee RESOLVED – to agree the amendment of the Grievance and Workplace Conflict Policy, Disciplinary Policy, Attendance Management Policy and Procedure, and the Procedure for the Management of Unacceptable Performance to replace the right of appeal against dismissal to an Employment Appeal Panel with a right of appeal to a senior officer at Assistant Director level or above

[Councillors Godfrey Daniel and Tutt voted against the above resolution]

Report by Assistant Chief Executive

19.1     The Committee considered a report by the Assistant Chief Executive regarding a review of Members’ allowances

19.2     The Committee RESOLVED to recommend the County Council to:

1)   approve the proposals set out in the report of Independent Remuneration Panel: and

2)   delegate authority to the Assistant Chief Executive to amend the Scheme of Allowances to reflect any changes agreed and to update the list of bodies to  which the County Council makes appointments as set out in Annex 1 of the Scheme of Allowances to reflect the current position

[Councillor Tutt abstained in relation to this resolution]

Report by Assistant Chief Executive

20.1     The Committee considered a report by the Assistant Chief Executive regarding Disclosure and Barring Checks for councillors.

20.2The Committee RESOLVED to recommend the County Council to –

1)               approve that an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check be undertaken for East Sussex County Councillors whose roles are listed at paragraph 4.2 of the report and for any other Councillor whose role is considered by the Monitoring Officer to meet the criteria that qualifies for a check; and

2)               approve that the Council’s DBS Policy Statement is updated to include reference to elected Members and to incorporate the policy changes introduced by this report and that Members who continue in a relevant role are required to undertake a new DBS disclosure every 4 years.

Report by Dircetor of Children’s Services

21.1     The Committee considered a report by the Director of Children’s Services regarding the proposed discontinuation of the Education Performance Panel, Governors Panel and Music Service Management Committee.

21.2     The Committee RESOLVED to recommend the County Council to:

1)   approve that the Education Performance Panel be discontinued

2)   delegate the power to nominate and remove  Local Authority governors  to the Director of Children’s Services as set out in paragraph 2.3 and approve that the Governors Panel be discontinued;

3)   delegate to the Director of Children’s Services  authority to exercise powers and duties of the County Council in its capacity as trustee of the charity known as the East Sussex Music Trust and approve that the current East Sussex Music Service Management Committee should be discontinued; and

4)   agree to delegate authority to the Assistant Chief Executive to amend the Constitution accordingly

[Councillor Godfrey Daniel abstained in relation to resolution (1) and voted against resolution (3). Councillor Tutt voted against resolutions (1) and (3)]

Report by Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

22.1     The Committee considered a report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport regarding a proposed amendment to the Scheme of Delegations to Officers

22.2     The Committee RESOLVED to recommend the County Council to agree to amend the Scheme of Delegation to Officers as set out in paragraph 3.1 of the report

[Councillor Tutt voted against the above resolution]

Report by Assistant Chief Executive

23.1     The Committee considered a report by the Assistant Chief Executive regarding appointments to the Board of Conservators of Ashdown Forest.

23.2     The Committee RESOLVED  - to approve the appointment of the Council’s representatives on the Board of Conservators of Ashdown Forest as set out in paragraph 1.3 of the report for a period until May 2021