Minutes of Proceedings 29th November 2006
Boardroom Floor 7 Goodwood House
BT1 4NN
Present:
- Mr Sid McDowell (Chairman)
- Professor Bernard Cullen
- Mr Brian Hanna
- Mr Jim McCusker
- Mrs Brenda McLaughlin
- Mr Desmond Mitchell
- Dr Collim Patton
In Attendance:
- Mr Brian Martin
- Mrs Iris Lovell
- Miss Susan Dornan
The Commission meeting opened at 10.35am.
1. Apologies
There were no apologies.
2. Minutes of meeting 1st November
The minutes of the 1st November meeting were agreed.
3. Matters Arising
3.1 Royal College of Nursing (RCN)
The Chairman advised Commissioners that he and the Chief Executive met with Mary Hinds and her colleague Janice Smyth from RCN on 17th November. The meeting had been a useful and interesting exchange, which he had offered to repeat in the future.
3.2 Location
The Chairman reported that the workshop on Location took place on 21st November. John Hunter and Olive Maybin, DFP had presented at the meeting and a useful question and answer session had followed. He advised that a draft Guiding Principle on Location would be circulated to Commissioners for comment and this would be a substantive agenda item at the 12th December meeting.
3.3 4th Sector
The Chairman reported that the Secretariat had been advised by Government that it was hoped that an event in relation to the 4th Sector would take place before Christmas and the Commission would be invited to attend.
3.4 Cross Sector HR Forum
The Chairman enquired if the sectoral Commissions had been approached by Government about the Cross Sector HR Forum.
The Chairpersons of the Commissions indicated that no approaches had been made.
3.5 Draft Enterprise Ulster [Dissolution] Order 2007
The Chairman informed Commissioners that Government had responded to the Commission’s query in relation to the steps taken to try and avoid the remaining Enterprise Ulster employees being made compulsorily redundant.
Commissioners discussed the response and concluded that the EU employees have been named by Government as constituents of the RPA Affected Group. Commissioners agreed that concern should be registered with Government in relation to the apparent lack of options for the staff employed at Enterprise Ulster and also the apparent failure of Government to honour its commitment that “every possible effort will be made to avoid redundancies”.
Agreed: Chairman to write to Government to register the Commission’s concern in relation to the treatment of staff in Enterprise Ulster.
Commissioners also expressed concern about how staff were advised of vacancies arising within the RPA Affected Group. Commissioners agreed that Government should adopt a multi-channeled approach to improve Communications in this area.
Agreed: Chief Executive to raise the Commission’s concerns with Government.
4. Chairman’s Business
4.1 RPA Steering Group
The Chairman reported that he had attended the RPA Steering Group meeting on 3rd November and would attend the subsequent meeting scheduled for Friday 1st December.
4.2 RPA Affected Group
The Chairman thanked Commissioners for their contribution to the evolving paper on the RPA Affected Group. A revised draft would be issued shortly and consideration given to possible amendments to Guiding Principles to reflect the content of the emerging draft.
4.3 Sixth Guiding Principle - Employer Statutory Obligations
The Chairman advised Commissioners that the sixth Guiding Principle had been issued to Government, NIC/ICTU and the sectoral Commissions for comment. He reported that responses will be considered at the 12th December meeting.
4.4 Sectoral Commissions Chief Executives’ Meeting
The Chairman informed Commissioners that the Chief Executive had met with the Chief Executives of the Local Government Staff Commission and the Staff Commission for Education and Library Boards on 10th November. The meeting had provided an opportunity for a useful exchange of information. A further meeting had been arranged for 10th January 2007.
4.5 Vacancy Management Strategies
The Chairman informed Commissioners that Government had forwarded returns on the operation of vacancy management strategies. He advised that an analysis of the information had been requested and this would be included in the papers for the 12th December meeting.
4.6 Staffing
The Chairman informed Commissioners that Julie Thompson would be leaving the Public Service Commission to take up a post in Central Personnel Group (CPG)
5. Draft Recommendation - Third Guiding Principle and Associated Recommendations Staff Transfers
Commissioners discussed the revised draft of the third Guiding Principle and agreed a few minor amendments.
Agreed: Chief Executive to recast the draft Guiding Principle to incorporate amendments for submission to Government.
6. Fourth Guiding Principle and Associated Recommendations Filling New or Substantially New Posts in New Organisations Being Created as a Result of the Review of Public Administration
Commissioners noted that Government had accepted the 4th Guiding Principle and would confirm this in writing soon.
7. Draft Fifth Guiding Principle – Voluntary Severance Arrangements
The Chairman advised that the draft had issued to employers in the RPA Affected Group, Government, NIC/ICTU and the sectoral staff commissions on 9th November. Comments were due back by 30th November 2006. The Secretariat will summarise the main points and if necessary, revise the draft Guiding Principle in light of the comments received for the 12th December meeting.
8. HPSS HR Framework Document
Commissioners discussed the revised draft response and made some further amendments.
Agreed: Secretariat to amend draft and issue to Government.
9. Discussion on Future Guiding Principles
The Chairman advised that the Secretariat had been considering a recommendation on the selection of staff for transfer. A paper was tabled and Commissioners were asked to comment on it. The issue would be a substantive agenda item at the Commission meeting on 12th December.
Commissioners briefly discussed issues which might be addressed in future Guiding Principles.
Agreed: Secretariat to circulate a short paper on potential future Guiding Principles for discussion at the Commission meeting on 12th December.
Agreed: Commissioners to advise the Secretariat of any comments on the selection of staff for transfer paper and suggestions for future Guiding Principles by Tuesday 5th December (if possible).
Agreed: The Director of Personnel, Central Personnel Group, to be invited to the Commission meeting early 2007.
10. Any Other Business
Agreed: Commissioners agreed dates for future Commission meetings as follows:
21st February 2007
20th March 2007
18th April 2007
16th May 2007
6th June 2007
11. Date of Next Meeting
Tuesday 12th December 2006, 1030 -1600hrs.
Chairman's Signature:
Date of Chairman's Signature: 12th December 2006