HR Committee

Purpose

The purpose of the HR Committee is to review staffing matters on behalf of the Council.  These terms of reference are supplementary to, and do not override the Council’s Standing Orders and / or Financial Regulations.

Membership

1. The committee shall comprise of 5 Council members.
2. Members shall be appointed at the annual meeting of the council or, in the case of the resignation of a member(s), at an ordinary council meeting.
3. Committee meetings shall be subject to a quorum of 3 voting members.
4. As per the Standing Orders, the Chair of Council has voting rights on the occasion of their attendance at committee.

Confidentiality

All members must preserve the confidentiality of personnel discussions held at meetings, and particularly that of exempt business, when the Committee decides that “publicity would be prejudicial to the public interest by reason of the confidential nature of the business to be transacted or for other special reasons stated in the resolution and arising from the nature of that business or of the proceedings”.  The Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 s.1(2)  Non-Committee council members do not automatically have access to the HR Committee’s confidential reports and/or papers.

Chairman

The Council will elect a chair and vice chair at the annual meeting of the council.

Conduct of Meetings

1. The committee will meet six times a year and all meetings will be held in accordance with the council’s standing orders.
2. The committee shall carry out all matters in accordance with the council’s Standing Orders and any other related policies.
3. All meetings of the committee will be minuted by the clerk or other appropriate staff member.
4. All minutes of the committee meetings will be provided to the Full Council.
5. Members of the press and public will be allowed to attend meetings and make representations in relation to advertised business items of the agenda in accordance with standing orders.
6. Where appropriate, meetings can go into exempt sessions and members of the public and press will be excluded.

Delegated Powers 

1. To have fully delegated powers under the Local Government Act 1972, section 101.
2. The committee shall have delegated powers to deal with all personnel, employment, and recruitment issues with, where necessary, reports and recommendations being made to the full council.
3. In the case of an emergency that will not wait until the next council meeting, the committee will have full powers to act on behalf of the council.
4. The committee will receive annual appraisals undertaken by the line manager (the Clerk’s appraisal should be carried out by the Chair and the Chair of Council, or Vice Chair in case of absence, and the Clerk should carry out appraisals for all other staff members) and consider issues raised within them.
5. The committee has delegated authority to:

• Advertise for, and recruit staff as directed by the council
• Consider and make recommendations regarding the council’s staffing structure
• Review and approve job descriptions for all staff
• Review and ensure all current employment legislation requirements are met
• Review contracts of employment
• Determine the deployment, welfare, pension, remuneration, recruitment, training, qualifications, health and other aspects and conditions of service for all employees
• Ensure relevant staff training is undertaken
• Be responsible for the welfare of staff
• Make recommendations regarding the establishment and grading of employees for the administration of the council and council facilities
• Deal with disciplinary and grievance issues including conduct, performance, attendance, and sickness absence
• Review and ensure compliance with health and safety law and matters
• Any other personnel actions as directed by the council

Reporting line

The HR Committee reports to Council.