Content

9.1       The Committee
considered a report of Director of Human Resources
& Organisational Development.

 

1.1 In July 2023 the Council launched an independent
inquiry into serious whistleblowing complaints about behaviours and
activity within the Council’s waste service (City
Clean).

           

1.2 The outcome report was received on
13th November 2023 and describes numerous accounts of
appalling behaviour faced by staff and managers at City Clean. This
report presents the findings of the inquiry and seeks formal
approval for the recommendations of the report and the subsequent
action plan that has been developed to ensure the serious and
devastating findings of the report are addressed.

 

9.2       Councillors Taylor, Rowkins
and Shanks and Councillor Robins commented and contributed to the
debate.

 

9.3       Chair welcomed the
proposed joint amendment from Councillors Shanks who spoke about
the report as outlined in 2.7. Councillor McNair seconded the
amendment on the failings of the Council as outlined in
2.8.

 

9.4       It is noted that the
report was received with thanks for all the work put into
it.

 

9.5       In response to
questions raised. The changes in disciplinary panel procedures will
be made in July and a report will be brought back in May of this
year.

 

9.6       The budget had to be
flexible to include funding various legal process in relation to
concerned staff.

 

9.7       The amendment
fell.

 

 

Resolved

 

That the Strategy, Finance & City Regeneration
Committee:
 
2.1        
Noted the findings of the independent inquiry
report, as detailed in Appendix 1.

2.2        
Noted and reinforces the apology issued by the
Council’s leadership to every staff member who has been
affected by these behaviours, past and present, and to residents
whose service has been affected by the dysfunction that has
resulted.

 
2.3        
Approved all recommendations of the independent
inquiry report, as detailed on pages 18-19 of Appendix 1, and the
action plan in Appendix 2.
 
2.4        
Gave delegated authority to the Director of
HR&OD to issue and serve the necessary notice on or after
26th January 2024 to terminate the council’s
existing disciplinary and disputes procedures.
 
2.5        
Authorised the Director of HR&OD to take all
steps necessary or incidental to preparations for the
implementation of arrangements that will replace the role of
Personnel Appeal Panels in those procedures, and therefore cease
any involvement of members in employment procedures from
26th July 2024 (aside from statutory responsibilities
associated with disciplinary action against Statutory Chief
Officers under the law or against other Chief Officers under the
JNC terms and conditions).
 
2.6        
Noted that a further report with the proposed new
disciplinary and disputes procedure and necessary amendments to the
Council’s Constitution to remove reference to the Personnel
Appeals Panel will be brought to Council or the Strategy, Finance
& City Regeneration Committee for approval.