Meeting documents

The Chairman will allow members of the public to present a petition on any matter within the Committee’s remit. Questions or statements about any matter on the agenda for this meeting will be taken at the time when each matter is considered.

The Chair referred to questions received from Mr Nigel Behan, of the Unite trade Union, that related to Item 7 Pensions Discretion

Q1 Has the Council compiled data, to date, on the application of Discretion by service area, grade, gender etc so as to ensure "discretion" is applied fairly and appropriately?

Q2 Will an Equality Impact Assessment be conducted to accompany these proposals (and reviews and monitored etc.)?

Q3 It was noted (in Our Somerset - 2nd January 2020) that "The Officer Code of Conduct is intended to be considered at HR Policy Committee during January ahead of its planned adoption in February 2020." It was discussed at the Constitutions and Standards Committee on 8th January but does not appear on the Agenda of this meeting. Will it be discussed at the next HR Policy Committee?

The questions were noted and it was agreed that a written response would be sent to Mr Behan.

In response to Question 1 it was explained that Flexible retirement became an option in 2007 and data had been collected since 2014. In 2016 and 2019 the Council had not declined applications. There had been no more than one application declined in other years. There were no discernible/identifiable trends around the service area/grade and/or gender. 2014 had seen 30 applications with 1 declined, with 8 applications last year.

In response to Question 2 it was explained that these were introduced after the introduction of the flexible retirement policy. This had not subsequently been revisited and to date there had not been an issue to cause concern.

Regarding Question 3 it was noted that a supplementary agenda for the meeting had been published which had included a for information agenda item regarding the Officer Code of Conduct.

The Chair referred to questions received from Mr Nigel Behan, of the Unite trade Union, that related to Item 7 Pensions Discretion

Q1 Has the Council compiled data, to date, on the application of Discretion by service area, grade, gender etc so as to ensure "discretion" is applied fairly and appropriately?

Q2 Will an Equality Impact Assessment be conducted to accompany these proposals (and reviews and monitored etc.)?

Q3 It was noted (in Our Somerset - 2nd January 2020) that "The Officer Code of Conduct is intended to be considered at HR Policy Committee during January ahead of its planned adoption in February 2020." It was discussed at the Constitutions and Standards Committee on 8th January but does not appear on the Agenda of this meeting. Will it be discussed at the next HR Policy Committee?

The questions were noted and it was agreed that a written response would be sent to Mr Behan.

In response to Question 1 it was explained that Flexible retirement became an option in 2007 and data had been collected since 2014. In 2016 and 2019 the Council had not declined applications. There had been no more than one application declined in other years. There were no discernible/identifiable trends around the service area/grade and/or gender. 2014 had seen 30 applications with 1 declined, with 8 applications last year.

In response to Question 2 it was explained that these were introduced after the introduction of the flexible retirement policy. This had not subsequently been revisited and to date there had not been an issue to cause concern.

Regarding Question 3 it was noted that a supplementary agenda for the meeting had been published which had included a for information agenda item regarding the Officer Code of Conduct.