The Human Resources Committee of Tower Hamlets Council met on Monday 12 June 2023, where members discussed and noted the committee's terms of reference, membership, and meeting dates for the upcoming year. The committee also established subcommittees for appointments and employee appeals, and reviewed the annual report on employee relations casework.

Human Resource Committee Terms of Reference, Membership, and Meeting Dates

The committee noted its terms of reference, membership, and meeting dates for the 2023-24 municipal year. Councillor Kabir Ahmed raised concerns regarding the wording of the terms of reference, particularly concerning the appointment criteria for senior officers and the role of the Monitoring Officer in disciplinary actions. He questioned why the Head of Paid Service and the Executive Mayor were not explicitly mentioned in setting appointment criteria for senior roles. Agnes Adrien, from Legal Services, clarified that the terms of reference are in accordance with the council's Constitution and that different procedures apply in cases of dismissal for the Monitoring Officer. Due to the concerns raised, the committee decided to put the noting of the report on hold until clarifications could be provided.

Establishment of Appointment and Employee Appeals Subcommittees

The committee agreed to establish an Appointment Subcommittee to oversee appointments to chief officer and deputy chief officer roles. Councillor Kabir Ahmed proposed that the Employee Appeals Subcommittee should operate on a politically proportionate basis, with a suggested allocation of two members from Aspire and one from Labour. Councillor Sabina Khan supported this, highlighting the need for gender balance and to avoid overburdening any single member. The committee voted to establish the Employee Appeals Subcommittee with the requirement for political proportionality, which was carried.

Annual Report on Employee Relations Casework and Policy

Pat Chen presented the annual report on employee relations casework for the previous 12 months. The report indicated that casework numbers remained stable, with grievances being the highest category of cases. A mediation service has been introduced and is being well-utilised. The average time to resolve cases is 125 days, just over the benchmark of 120 days, with the majority of cases resolved within 45 days. Councillor Sabina Khan inquired about the age groups and sexual orientations of those bringing grievances, and Pat Chen confirmed that data on age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability, and age is available in the report. The highest number of grievances were found in the 55 to 64 age bracket. Concerns were also raised about the potential for intimidation or bias within occupational health services, which Pat Chen addressed by explaining the independent role of external contractors and the oversight provided by HR business partners.

Pay Policy Statement 2023-2024

The committee reviewed the Pay Policy Statement for 2023-2024. This annual statement outlines the terms and conditions for senior officers and is required to be published, including the pay differential between the highest and lowest paid employees. Councillor Kabir Ahmed noted positively that the council's lowest paid workers are paid above the London Living Wage. The committee agreed to recommend the pay policy statement for publication at the full council meeting.

Update on Senior Recruitment

An update was provided on senior recruitment, including interim arrangements. The report detailed current interim appointments, such as Steve Utholsey as interim Chief Executive, Head of Paid Service, and Returning Officer, and Caroline Holland as interim Corporate Director of Resources. Recruitment processes are underway for permanent Chief Executive and Corporate Director of Resources roles. The report also listed interim appointments and acting arrangements within various directorates.