Issue - meetings

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       to approve the revised Managing Discipline Policy, attached as Appendix 1 to the report;

(ii)       to agree that implementation of the revised policy be delayed until such time as the revised Managing Grievances and Dignity and Respect at Work policies were agreed (the intention being that these policies are presented to Staff Governance Committee in September 2021 for approval);

(iii)      in relation to the attached guidance, to note that the Chief Officer – People and Organisational Development would, in discussion with Trade Unions, revise the section “Life of Disciplinary Warnings” to clarify when circumstances might require these to be extended, to ensure that there was no disparity for certain members of staff (for example, term-time workers), and would circulate the revised guidance to Members for information; and

(iv)      to note that a generic investigations procedure was being developed to cover all three policies.

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Resources which sought approval of the revised Managing Discipline Policy.  The report advised that the aim of the policy was to empower and support employees to comply with the cultural norms of the Council as set out in the Guiding Principles. 

It was noted that the review of the policy was part of the review of the three policies which sat at the heart of employee relations processes within the Council, namely Managing Discipline, Managing Grievances and Managing

Bullying and Harassment at Work.

The report recommended:-

that Committee –

(a)      approve the revised Managing Discipline Policy, attached as Appendix 1 to the report;

(b)      agree that implementation of the revised policy be delayed until such time as the revised Managing Grievances and Dignity and Respect at Work policies were agreed (the intention being that these policies be presented to Staff Governance Committee in September 2021 for approval);

(c)      note the appended guidance document which supported the application of the policy; and

(d)      note that a generic investigations procedure was being developed to cover all three policies.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       in relation to the attached guidance, to note that the Chief Officer – People and Organisational Development would, in discussion with Trade Unions, revise the section “Life of Disciplinary Warnings” to clarify when circumstances might require these to be extended, to ensure that there was no disparity for certain members of staff (for example, term-time workers), and would circulate the revised guidance to Members for information; and

(ii)       to otherwise approve the recommendations.