Agenda item

The Chairman of the Personnel Committee was not present at the meeting. 

 

The Chairman asked the Town Clerk to inform Members of the Personnel Committee recommendations by reading the recommendations therein.

 

Personnel Committee held on 29^th February 2024:

 

RECOMMENDATION 1:

 

80/23/24    TO RECEIVE THE PERSONNEL COMMITTEE BUDGET STATEMENT AND CONSIDER ANY ACTIONS AND ASSOCIATED EXPENDITURE.

 

The Town Clerk informed Members that the staff training budget codes are split across Services, Library and Policy and Finance in the same manner as the salaries.  There is potential for staff to miss training opportunities due to the lengthy approval process for training requests over the delegated amount of £200.

 

Members asked various questions. 

 

The Town Clerk confirmed that salary incremental is a recommendation to Full Council.

 

It was RESOLVED to note the budget statement.

 

It was proposed by Councillor Dent, seconded by Councillor Martin and unanimously resolved to RECOMMEND to the Policy and Finance Committee held on 12th March to consider virement of the staff training budget codes to the Personnel Committee to assist with staff training requests in line with the Committee Terms of Reference.

 

It was proposed by Councillor Peggs, seconded by Councillor Dent and RESOLVED to approve the above recommendation.

 

It was proposed by Councillor Martin, seconded by Councillor Dent and unanimously resolved to RECOMMEND to the Policy and Finance Committee held on 12th March to consider virement of the staff salary budget codes to the Personnel Committee.

 

It was proposed by Councillor Foster, seconded by Councillor Dent and RESOLVED to approve the above recommendation.

 

RECOMMENDATION 2:

 

81/23/24    TO RECEIVE REPORTS ON STAFF TRAINING AND CONSIDER ANY ACTIONS AND ASSOCIATED EXPENDITURE:

 

a.  Training Budget

 

It was RESOLVED to note.

 

b.  Training Attended

 

Councillor Foster left the meeting and then re-joined the meeting during discussion of this item.

 

It was RESOLVED to note.

 

c.   Training requests

 

It was proposed by Councillor Martin, seconded by Councillor Stoyel and unanimously resolved to RECOMMEND to the Services Committee to be held on 11th April to ratify the Town Clerks delegated authority for the Service Delivery Manager to attend RoSPA Routine Visual Inspection course at a cost of £335+VAT allocated to budget code 6676 Services Delivery Staff Training.

 

It was proposed by Councillor Stoyel, seconded by Councillor Foster and unanimously resolved to RECOMMEND to the Policy and Finance Committee to be held on 12th March to approve the Finance Officer to attend the Local Government Association Employer Role training on the 16th April at a cost of £250+VAT allocated to budget code 6656 Staff Training.

 

It was proposed by Councillor Stoyel, seconded by Councillor Mortimore and RESOLVED to approve the Finance Officer to attend the Local Government Association Employer Role training on the 16^th April at a cost of £250+VAT allocated to budget code 6656 Staff Training.

 

RECOMMENDATION 3:

 

86/23/24    TO RECEIVE A REPORT ON BRIGHTPAY SOFTWARE AND CONSIDER ANY ACTIONS AND ASSOCIATED EXPENDITURE.

 

It was proposed by Councillor Martin, seconded by Councillor Stoyel and unanimously RESOLVED to:

 

1.  Purchase an annual licence for BrightPay 2024/25 at a cost of £289+VAT;

 

2.  Purchase BrightPay Connect at a cost of 0.65p+VAT per employee per month;

 

3.  RECOMMEND to the Policy and Finance Committee held on 12th March that the associated cost be allocated to budget code 6305 Finance Software due to the function moving back in-house.

 

It was proposed by Councillor P Samuels, seconded by Councillor Stoyel and RESOLVED to allocate the associated costs for bringing the BrightPay software function back in house to budget code 6305 Finance Software.

 

 

RECOMMENDATION 4:

 

89/23/24    TO REVIEW ROSEVALE ACCOUNTANTS FINANCE SERVICE AND CONSIDER ANY ACTIONS AND ASSOCIATED EXPENDITURE.

 

It was proposed by Councillor Martin, seconded by Councillor Foster and unanimously RESOLVED:

 

1.  To continue with the temporary appointment of Rosevale Accountants to support the Finance Officer with the year-end and AGAR work;

 

2.  At a cost of £33+VAT per hour;

 

3.  The Town Clerk to continue to oversee the working relationship with Rosevale and ensure contracted hours are only as necessary and stay within budget;

 

4.  To note the 12 month training plan ceases on 31st March 2024;

 

5.  To RECOMMEND to the Policy and Finance Committee held on 12th March to allocate the associated cost to budget code 6661 Finance Consultancy Fees.

 

 

The Town Clerk advised Members of an update to the existing finance agreement with Rosevale Accountants that has been notified to all Members of the Personnel Committee by email.

 

Due to a change in Rosevale Accountants billing system the finance agreement has been terminated with immediate effect.  The Finance Officer will undertake year-end and AGAR work in-house.

 

To allow the Finance Officer to undertake this work, the Personnel Committee agreed by emailthat Rosevale Accountants continue to operate the payroll on a temporary basis up to and including June 2024 at a cost of £10 + VAT per employee to process the payroll on BrightPay and £12.50+VAT per employee to manage BrightHR allocated to budget code 6661 Finance Consultancy.

 

The purchase of an annual licence for BrightPay will take place prior to payroll moving back in-house (recommendation 3 approved – minute 178/23/24).

 

It was proposed by Councillor Bullock, seconded by Councillor B Samuels and RESOLVED that Rosevale Accountants continue to operate the payroll on a temporary basis up to and including June 2024 at a cost of £10+VAT per employee and to manage BrightHR at a cost of £12.50 +VAT per employee, allocated to budget code 6661 Finance Consultancy Fees.