Agenda and minutes

County Councillor Scott Smith replaced County Councillor David O'Toole for this meeting.

There were no apologies.

Members are asked to consider any pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests they may have to disclose to the meeting in relation to matters under consideration on the agenda.

None.

To be confirmed and signed by the Chair.

Resolved: That the minutes of the Employment Committee meetings held on 14 November 2024 and 5 December 2024 be confirmed as an accurate record.

The committee considered a report on the revised Terms of Reference for the Employment Committee, following changes approved by Full Council on 17 October 2024.

Resolved: That the revised Terms of Reference of the committee, as set out at Appendix 'A' of the report, be noted.

An item of urgent business may only be considered under this heading where, by reason of special circumstances to be recorded in the minutes, the Chair of the meeting is of the opinion that the item should be considered at the meeting as a matter of urgency.  Wherever possible, the Chief Executive should be given advance warning of any member’s intention to raise a matter under this heading.

There was one item of Urgent Business in relation to the review of the Coroner salaries and fees for 2024 to 2025.

Ann Edwards, Coroner Services Manager, presented a report that proposed a pay award of 4.75% across the Senior and Area Coroner salaries and a 2.5% pay award to the daily rates paid to Assistant Coroners.

It was noted that the report was being presented under Urgent Business because negotiations on this matter between the county council, Blackburn with Darwen Council, and the Coroners were still in progress at the time of the agenda publication.

The committee noted the "Cause of Death" TV documentary, which had given the Lancashire and Blackburn Coroner's Service a high profile nationally, and praised the coroner's staff, including their support staff, for the work they do.

Resolved: That

i.  The salaries and fees paid to the Senior and Area Coroners be increased by 4.75% with effect from 1 April 2024; and

ii.  The daily rate paid to Assistant Coroners be increased by 2.5% with effect from 1 April 2024.

The next meeting of the committee will be an Extraordinary meeting held on Friday 7 February 2025 at 9.30am at County Hall, Preston.

It was noted that the next meeting of the Employment Committee would be an extraordinary meeting to be held on Friday 7 February 2024, 9.30am at County Hall, Preston.

The committee is asked to consider whether, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act, 1972, it considers that the public should be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items of business on the grounds that there would be a likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the appropriate paragraph of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act, 1972, as indicated against the heading to the item.

Resolved: That the press and members of the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items of business on the grounds that there would be a likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the appropriate paragraph of Part I of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

(Not for Publication – Exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1 and 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act, 1972.  It is considered that in all the circumstances of the case the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interests in disclosing the information).

(Not for Publication – Exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1 and 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act, 1972. It was considered that in all the circumstances of the case the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interests in disclosing the information.)

Lucy Thompson, Director of People, and Julie Towers, Director, Penna, presented a private and confidential report on the recruitment for the Chief Executive / Head of Paid Service role. It was noted that the report contained the outcome of the technical assessments on the candidates who were longlisted for the role by the committee at its last meeting on 5 December 2024 and also provided further candidate information to enable a decision to be made on those candidates progressing to stakeholder panels and final interview.

The report also sought agreement for the arrangements of the final interviews stage.

Resolved: That

  (i)  Those candidates identified as being recommended be shortlisted to the final stage of the recruitment;

  (ii)  The proposed arrangements for the final stage of the recruitment, as set out in the report, including those suggested changes to stakeholder panels as discussed at the meeting, be approved; and

 (iii)  The proposed arrangements for the final Committee interview on 7 February 2025, including the presentation topic as set out in the report, be approved.