Minutes of Meeting 20th November 2007
Public Service Commission
Minutes of Proceedings
Tuesday 20th November 2007
Boardroom 10 Cromac Place
The Gasworks
Present:Mr Sid McDowell (Chairman)
Professor Bernard Cullen [For items 1 – 6]
Mr Brian Hanna
Mr Jim McCusker
Mrs Brenda McLaughlin
Mr Desmond Mitchell
Dr Collim Patton
In Attendance:Mr Brian Martin
The Commission meeting opened at 10.30am.
1. Apologies
None.
2. Minutes of the meeting of 16th October 2007
The minutes of the 16th October meeting were agreed.
3. Matters Arising
3.1
Staff Transfers Code of Practice
Commissioners were advised that the Chief Executive had urged Government officials to bring this to a conclusion with Trade Union Side.
Agreed: Commissioners to see “final” version of Code of Practice when available. Secretariat to let Commissioner’s legal adviser have sight of it.
3.2
5th Guiding Principle Voluntary Severance Arrangements
The Chairman advised Commissioners that there had been no developments on this since the last meeting. Commissioners indicated that they were anxious to bring this Guiding Principle to a conclusion and asked that it be put on the agenda for the December meeting.
Agreed: Chief Executive to urge Government officials and NICICTU to provide suggested revisions/comments by 5 December.
3.3
10th Guiding Principle Re-organisation and Implementation of Change
The Chairman advised Commissioners that at the suggestion of Trade Union Side a further paragraph had been added to the draft. A response on this was expected from Government officials shortly.
Agreed: Chief Executive to circulate the response from officials to Commissioners for comment.
3.4
Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety’s letter of 8 October to all staff in Health and Social Care in Northern Ireland
A letter of response from the HPSS RPA HR Project Team dated 18 October was tabled and noted. Commissioners expressed concern about the transparency of the “review” process and the timescale for making decisions.
Agreed: Chief Executive to write to RPA Central Unit seeking details of the methodology which is being employed in undertaking the “review” and the timescale for final decisions.
3.5
Review of Environmental Governance
The Chairman advised Commissioners that the Department of the Environment is in the very early stages of analysing the content of the report and that the Minister has written to other Ministers seeking comment. The Minister of the Environment has indicated that she will make a statement to the Assembly before the end of the year.
4. Chairman’s Business
4.1
Position of Staff in Health Boards
The Chairman advised Commissioners he had heard that, given the current reflection being undertaken by the Minister, staff were concerned about their future. Commissioners discussed whether Board staff might be at a disadvantage. A broad discussion took place on concerns Commissioners had on the impact that the delay in the implementation of RPA decisions was having on staff across all sectors.
Agreed: Chief Executive to write to Head of NI Civil Service seeking an early meeting to discuss Commissioner’s concerns. Chairman [and possibly 2 Commissioners] to attend.
5 2nd (Revised) Guiding Principle Managing Vacancies Effectively in Existing Organisations and 4th (Revised) Guiding Principle Filling Vacancies and New or Substantially New Posts in New Organisations
Commissioners discussed the drafts which were tabled at the meeting and agreed final versions of both Guiding Principles. Commissioners also noted the extract from the draft Code of Practice which is being developed by Government officials. Commissioners were advised that the draft Guiding Principles would be considered at an Executive meeting on 18 December 2007.
Action: Chief Executive to issue final drafts of both Guiding Principles to Government officials.
6 Emerging Findings from local government review
The Chairman explained that he had received an apology from Government officials for PSC not being invited to a briefing on the day of publication of the report. Commissioners discussed the HR issues which could emerge and agreed that there could be complex employment consequences to be thought through. Commissioners also discussed the review of Local Government Staff Commission functions mentioned in the report and the reference to proposals for a wider Public Sector Commission.
Agreed: Commission to keep a watching brief on developments. Chief Executive to ask Government officials for the terms of reference of the review and ascertain what consideration is being given to a wider Public Sector Commission.
7 Why Public Service Commission should be retained
Commissioners made some minor amendments to the discussion paper which had issued with the agenda. This could be refined in light of developments. The Chairman advised Commissioners that he and the Chief Executive would be meeting Government officials to do some scenario planning on the future of the Commission.
Agreed: Chairman to report back on discussions with Government officials. Commissioners may want to discuss the issue of compliance with Guiding Principles.
8 Role of Public Service Commission in Shared Services
Commissioners discussed the letter of response which had been received from the Commission’s legal adviser. This endorsed the earlier view of Commissioners that Guiding Principles should apply although the caveat about shared services being provided by the private sector would require further consideration. A letter from the RPA Central Unit was tabled. Although this concluded that the applicability of Guiding Principles would be looked at as shared service proposals emerge it fell short of the Commission’s position on the issue.
Agreed: Chairman and Chief Executive to meet with NICICTU to ascertain their views. Shared Services to be on agenda for December meeting of the Commission.
9 Research proposal update
Dessie Mitchell advised Comissioners that reasonable progress was being made on this.
10 Any Other Business
10.1
Conference on Shaping the Future of HR
Commissioners were advised that Collim Patton and the Chief Executive would be attending one day of the conference.
10. Date of Next Meeting
Wednesday 19th December 2007 at 10.30am.
Further meetings were scheduled for 23 January, 21 February and 19 March 2008.
