Agenda item

Youth Service: An action from the last meeting requested a report detailing the Youth Service (including The Zone and grant funding) element of the whole directorate review to be presented to Committee when the business plan is finalised. This is likely to be in the next financial year.  A Member asked for clarification concerning the £70,000 grant from Welsh Government provided purely for youth services for The Zone in Caldicot and specifically, what would happen to that value if it moved to the Leisure Centre.  It was also questioned what responsibility there was to ensure that the amount remained with the Council. 

Zero Hours Contracts (Casual Hours Contracts): Information was circulated to all Committee Members on employment practices in schools.  Provision of the information concludes all matters arising from discussion of zero hours contracts.  It was strongly emphasised that these types of contracts are not issued in the county.

In response to a question, it was clarified that re-employed was different to redeployed and that if redeployment was an option, the staff member concerned would not have been made redundant.

Reference was made to the advice provided to Headteachers concerning break in service regarding the practice of terminating employees in the Spring term and re-employing them in the Autumn Term and the implications for pensions and future redundancies. It was recognised that there might be detriment for the staff member and queried if there would be such implications for schools.   It was confirmed that schools are provided with advice that the school holiday period would be likely to be considered as continuous by an Employment Tribunal so there would be no break in service and the practice is not, therefore advised. 

In response to a query, it was agreed to provide the previous three years’ information to the Committee.

Whilst recognising that Special Educational Needs (SEN) funding can change from term to term, concern was expressed that it is not positive for teaching assistants to be employed on a term by term basis. It was noted that holidays would accrue but the break in the year was a period of unemployment and could be perceived as a way around not employing people on a full time basis.  In response, it was explained that the situation described may not be the norm as it would usually be a contract for an academic year but that a teaching assistant on a temporary contract may have a termly contract (or contract for a specific other period e.g. to cover maternity or a SEN pupil) to reflect the available funding and the requirement of the role.

A Member expressed the opinion that further information was required to provide evidence that some employees prefer casual contracts and it was responded that assurance had already been provided by Leisure Managers and HR and there was uncertainty what further information could be supplied.

The Committee’s attention was drawn to the expectation of the Council to receive feedback from the Committee on zero hours contracts and whilst accepted that Audit Committee minutes are presented to Council, it was agreed that the Chair would prepare a briefing note for the new Committee to consider.

Risk (Events):  An update was provided on the Events Audit reported to last Audit Committee.  It was reported that a review of events procedures had an outcome of an unfavourable audit opinion.  A follow-up review is being undertaken and conclusions will be reported back in September.