The Chair informed the meeting that Items 2, 3 and 4 were withdrawn from the agenda as they had been added in error and would instead be considered by the Local Joint Committee on 2 December 2016.

The minutes of the last meeting of the Local Joint Committee on Friday 15 December 2015 were approved as a correct record subject to the following amendment:

Cllr A Favell was present at the meeting.  A check would also be made as to whether staff members of the committee should be recorded as present in the minutes along with any apologies given 

There was no urgent business to consider.

Members are asked to declare any disclosable pecuniary, personal or prejudicial interests they may have in relation to items on the agenda for this meeting.

There were no Members’ declarations of interest.

The Safety Officer’s Annual Report for 2015 had already been considered by the Health and Safety Committee and the Leadership Team and amended in line with their suggestions.

It was noted that there is a downward trend in staff accidents and that the reporting of near-miss incidents has improved.

The Leadership Team and managers will receive training in the achievement of strategic health and safety targets linked to the new Health and Safety Policy and the use of performance data.

It was agreed that there should be another practice emergency evacuation of Aldern House on a day when Members were in the building and for the benefit of new tenants. The Safety Officer stated that all new tenants had been made fully aware of the evacuation procedure.

The Chair thanked the officer on behalf of Members, acknowledging the importance of his work and recognising the value of his continuing advisory role at the Northumberland and South Downs National Park Authorities.

The recommendation was moved, seconded, voted upon and carried.

RESOLVED:

That the Safety Officer’s Annual Report for 2015 be approved.

Staff member Nicola Howarth gave a verbal update to Members on the activities of Staff Committee between December 2015 and June 2016. Nicola reported that Staff Committee met regularly with the Leadership Team and continued to support staff during the redesign of the organisation.

In March 2016, five staff had signed up to the Cycle to Work Scheme and further opportunities to do this would be available in September 2016 and January 2017. Nicola thanked Human Resources, Legal and Finance Teams for their support in enabling the Scheme to operate successfully.

The Christmas Fayre in 2015 had been well attended and Cllr Mrs K Potter was thanked for providing home made mince pies.

Several events were planned for 2016 including a visit to Ecton mine and another Christmas Fayre. In response to Members’ interest in joining staff at these events, staff committee confirmed that members would be invited in the future. The Director of Corporate Strategy and Development said that she would also advise the Leadership Team of the discussion and arrangement.

UNISON representative Josie Allen reported that discussions with the Leadership Team were ongoing during the period of organisational change.

UNISON’s concern that there would be redundancies in the Support Services was addressed by the Director of Corporate Strategy and Development who explained that the previously planned savings in years two and three would not be made, as detailed in the Authority report of 27 May 2016 (Item 8). Instead, money available as a result of a more favourable settlement from Defra would be reinvested according to need to support delivery of the Authority’s Corporate Strategy 2016-2019. However, it was acknowledged that some staff roles could significantly change in order to ensure that the necessary skills were in place to effect this delivery.

The recommendation was moved, seconded, voted upon and carried.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.