Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors North and Yalden.

There was no public participation.

There were no declarations of interest.

There were no urgent items to be considered.

To approve, as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting held on 8 January 2024.

Councillor MacDonald brought to the Committee’s attention that the finish time of the previous meeting was incorrect.  It should have read 5:42 pm and not 5:02 pm.

The minutes of the General Purposes Committee held on 8 January 2024 were approved, with the above amendment, proposed by Councillor Adams-King and seconded by Councillor Flood. Upon being put to the vote, the motion was carried.

Resolved:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 8 January 2024 be approved, with amendment, and signed as a correct record.

To consider changes to the Council’s HR Policies related to maternity, paternity and adoption.

Consideration was given to a report of the HR Manager, which considered an update to the Council’s parental policies.

The Becoming a Parent Policy brings together the Council’s parental policies into a single, more modern and succinct policy which better reflects the different ways in which people become parents.

Councillor A Dowden requested a list of those local authorities in Hampshire which have similar parental policy arrangements.  The HR Manager will share following the meeting.

The following recommendation was proposed by Councillor Lashbrook and seconded by Councillor Flood and unanimously agreed by the Committee.

Resolved:

That the Becoming a Parent Policy, attached as an Annex to the report, be approved.

To appoint to the General Purposes Sub-Committees.

Consideration was given to a report of the Head of Legal and Democratic which recommended that the General Purposes Committee appoint Councillors to the Sub-Committees reflecting political proportionality.

The following recommendation was proposed by Councillor Lashbrook and seconded by Councillor Flood and unanimously agreed by the Committee.

Resolved:

1.  That a Redundancy Appeals Sub-Committee of the General Purposes Committee be established comprising four members, and that Councillors Z Brooks, Burnage, A Dowden, and P Lashbrook be appointed to the Sub-Committee.

2.  That an Employment Appeals and Ethics Sub-Committee of the General Purposes Committee be established comprising five members, and that Councillors Adams-King, C Dowden, Flood, MacDonald and Yalden be appointed to the Sub-Committee.