Personnel Committee

Read the Minutes

Present:

• Councillor S. Murphy - In the Chair (for PER/07/01-PER/07/02) 
• Councillors Ashley, Commons, Curley, Leese, E. Newman, Ramsbottom and Jeff Smith.

PER/07/01 Urgent Business

Decision

To consider a report of the City Treasurer relating to proposals for the establishment of additional Programme Managers for the Building Schools for the Future (Academies) Programme to enable decisions to be taken as soon as possible.

PER/07/02 Minutes

Decision

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 20 December, 2006.

PER/07/03 Chair

Decision

To appoint Councillor Curley to chair the remainder of the meeting.

PER/07/04 Children's Services Directorate - Proposed Disestablishment of post of Chief Education Officer and creation of post of Deputy Director of Children's Services, Schools. 

A report was submitted outlining proposals to strengthen and redefine the senior management structure within Children's Services by creating a new post of Deputy Director of Children's Services, Schools, in order to ensure coherent support and challenge to schools to achieve improved outcomes for children as well as fuller integration of education services and related initiatives into the wider Children's Services Directorate.

Decision

1. To approve the disestablishment of the role of Chief Education Officer and the establishment of a new post of Deputy Director of Children's Services, Schools to undertake a leadership role in educational transformation together with a deputising role for the Director of Children's Services.

2. To delegate authority to the Director of Children's Services in consultation with the City Treasurer, the Head of Corporate Personnel and the Executive Members for Children's Services and Finance and Human Resources to progress the voluntary early retirement of the Chief Education Officer.

3. To approve the establishment of an appointment panel comprising the Leader of the Council (or his nominee), the Executive Member for Children's Services, the Executive Member for Finance and Human Resources and the Leader of the Opposition (or his nominee) to approve a job description and person specification and make arrangements for advertising and appointing to the post of Deputy Director of Children's Services, Schools.

4. To approve the redesignation of the post of Deputy Chief Education Officer to Assistant Director, Children's Services (Schools).

PER/07/05 Strategic and Support Services for Neighbourhood Services Directorate.

Consideration was given to a report setting out proposals to create two new roles Head of Business Support and Business Support Manager in order to support the Strategic Director, Neighbourhood Services in the development and implementation of proposals for an appropriate strategic and support services infrastructure for the Neighbourhood Services Directorate.

Decision

1. To approve the establishment of new posts of Head of Business Support at a salary level of £60,000, and, Business Support Manager, Grade 10+10% (£40,287 - £43,035), within the Neighbourhood Services Directorate.

2. To delegate authority to the Strategic Director of Neighbourhood Services, in consultation with the Head of Corporate Personnel and the appropriate Executive Members to develop job descriptions for these posts and arrange for them to be advertised in line with City Council policy.

3. To delegate authority to the Strategic Director of Neighbourhood Services, in consultation with the Head of Corporate Personnel and the relevant Executive Members, for developing and implementing further proposals for a strategic and support service structure for the Neighbourhood Services Directorate.

PER/07/06 Employee Domestic Abuse Policy

A report was submitted seeking approval for a revised Employee Domestic Abuse Policy and Guidance for Managers and outlining arrangements for the implementation and monitoring of the revised Policy.

Decision

1. To approve the revised Policy and Guidance for Managers and agree that the Head of Adult Social Care and Head of Personnel oversee the implementation of the policy detailed in the report.

2. To note that the Head of Personnel will be responsible for oversight of the policy and for monitoring instances of domestic abuse involving City Council employees to ensure that the appropriate action is taken.

3. To agree that Manchester City Council join the Corporate Alliance Against Domestic Violence.

PER/07/07 Flexible Retirement.

A report was submitted setting out proposals as part of a wider workforce development and skills retention strategy for the introduction of a Flexible Retirement Policy in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government Pension Scheme (Amendment) No.2 Regulations 2006 (SI 2006/2008).

Decision

1. To approve the adoption of the Flexible Retirement Policy by the City Council.

2. To agree that individual requests for flexible retirement be endorsed by the relevant Strategic Director before being submitted to the Heads of Corporate Personnel and Financial Management for final determination.

3. To approve that in the first year of operation, individual requests be endorsed by the Chief Executive's Centre Management Group.

4. To authorise the City Treasurer, or his nominated representative, to determine appeals against decisions to deny a request for flexible retirement.

5. To approve the publication of the policy in accordance with the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) Regulations.

PER/07/08 Establishment of Commercial Board and redesignation and regrading of the Head of Regeneration (Legal) to Head of Commercial Strategy (Legal)

A report was submitted setting out proposals to implement arrangements which will safeguard and strengthen the approach taken by the City Council in relation to major commercial projects in the City, and outlining the establishment of a Commercial Board consisting of the relevant senior officers, serviced by an officer with the necessary commercial and legal acumen.

Decision

1. To note the establishment of a Commercial Board as a high level Steering Group who will oversee major commercial projects and the development of a broader commercial strategy for the City.

2. To approve the redefinement of the role of the post of Head of Regeneration (Legal) to assume additional responsibilities in relation to major commercial projects and specifically to be accountable for servicing the Commercial Board, and the redesignation of the post to Head of Commercial Strategy (Legal) at a salary of £65,000.

3. To delegate authority to the City Solicitor in consultation with the City Treasurer and Head of Corporate Personnel to implement arrangements for establishing the Commercial Board and to develop a revised Job Description for the redesignated post.

PER/07/09 Civil Contingencies Strategy Manager.

A report was submitted setting out proposals to create a new Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA) wide post of Civil Contingencies Strategy Manager to work across and support and strengthen the resilience of local government services infrastructures at strategic and operational levels in the event of major incidents and emergencies.

Decision

1. To approve the establishment of a new AGMA wide post of Civil Contingencies Strategy Manager at a salary level of £53,000 to be located and managed on behalf of AGMA within the Manchester City Council Neighbourhood Services Directorate, and jointly funded by AGMA members on a pro rata basis.

2. To delegate authority to the Director of Neighbourhood Services, in consultation with the Head of Corporate Personnel, and the appropriate Executive Members, to develop a job description for the post and arrange for it to be advertised in line with City Council policy.

3. To authorise the Director of Neighbourhood Services to finalise formal pro rata recharge arrangements with AGMA members.

PER/07/10 Proposed establishment of two additional Programme Managers for the Building Schools for the Future (Academies) Programme.

A report was submitted setting out proposals to establish two additional Programme Manager posts within the Capital Programme Division of the Corporate Services Directorate.

Decision

1. To note the current position in regard to the development of the Manchester Academies and programme and approve two additional posts of Programme Manager at Grade 10+20% (£43,938 - £46,929) to lead on the next wave of the Academies Programme.

2. To delegate authority to the City Treasurer in consultation with the Executive Member for Finance and Human Resources to develop and implement additional structural proposals to support this wave of the Programme and to progress recruitment arrangements for the new posts.