NORTHERN IRELAND REGION

MINUTES OF THEMEETING HELD ON 10 NOVEMBER 2011

AT 10.30 AMIN LISBURN CITY COUNCIL

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Sharon CurransBanbridge District Council (Region Chair)

Linda LeahyLocal Government Staff Commission (Region Secretary)

Rosemary RaffertyOmagh District Council

Aisling KnipeArmaghCity & District Council

Brendan CurrieDungannon & South Tyrone Borough Council

Brid LofthouseMoyle District Council

Thelma BrowneFermanagh District Council

Paula DonnellyStrabane District Council

Elaine MageeAntrim Borough Council

Catrina MiskellyDown District Council

Caroline MageeLisburn City Council

Christine AllisterBanbridge District Council

Samantha ReaArds Borough Council

Wendy MonsonNorth Down Borough Council

Anne LennonColeraine Borough Council

Petra McGuirkCraigavon Borough Council

Steve TraynorSTaHRS

Susan BeattieBelfast City Council

Catherine SweeneyNewry & Mourne District Council

Florence WilsonMagherafelt District Council

Joan KinnairdBallymoney District Council

Karen HarganBallymena Borough Council

Sandra KellyLimavady Borough Council

Sinead McNichollDerry City Council

  1. APOLOGIES

The apologies received were noted.

The Chair opened the meeting, welcomed members and thanked Lisburn for their hospitality.

2.ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE RECRUITMENT OF INDEPENDENT DPP MEMBERS

The Chair welcomed Amanda Stewart and Heather Wilson from the Policing Board for NI and Liam Hannaway from SOLACE NI to the meeting. Following a presentation from the Policing Board representatives, Members sought clarification on a number of issues and agreed that a small Working Group would liaise directly with the Policing Board on the detailed HR issues relating to this matter. Petra McGuirk, Brenda Bradley, Karen Hargan, Wendy Monson and Sharon Currans volunteered to serve on the Working Group. Members also noted that the SOLACE representatives for Strategic PCSP/DPCSP issues were Liam Hannaway, Anne Donaghy and Theresa Donaldson.

3.MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING – 13October 2011

The Minutes were agreed as a true and accurate record of the meeting.

4.MATTERS ARISING

There was a brief update on matters raised in AOB at the 13 October meeting.

5.SINGLE STATUS UPDATE

Members heard an update from the recent positive meeting with NIPSA and Craigavon, Down, Newry & Mourne and North Down councils in relation to progressing outstanding appeals and noted that NIPSA have been asked to formally submit a proposal for consideration.

6.RPA UPDATES

Members had a general discussion and noted the current position.

7.ICE PROGRAMME

7.1Feedback from PPMA Working Groups:

Recruitment

Sinead Clarke reported thatthenext meeting of the Group will be held on 16 November.

Systems Integration

Elaine Magee reported that some piloting work had commenced or was due to start and consequently there was likely to be no update for two months.

Occupational Health

Aisling Knipe reported that the preparation of a specification document was in its final stages, she also reported on recent conversations with procurement specialists.

Competency Framework

Sinead McNicholl advised that a meeting was to be held on 11th November to discuss the launching the Framework at the HR Conference in December.

7.2Policy Work Update

The leadsupdated the meeting on the development of the various policies and it was noted that Rosemary McCullough was in the process of convening the original Working Group to give consideration to the following over-arching issues:

  • a standard format for all the policies and any accompanying pro-formas
  • whether it is necessary to have a legal check done on the final draft documents
  • manner of publication and branding

Diana Stewart and Christine Allister reported on a recent meeting of the Chairs of Professional Groups meeting convened by SOLACE where all the ICE initiatives reported were HR examples.

The Chair commended and thanked all the Working Group leads and members for the excellent progress that had been made.

8.PEOPLE/OD STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK

and

11.HR CONFERENCE 8 & 9 DECEMBER 2011

Members noted that the final document will be launched at the Conference in December.

9.UPDATE FROM LGTG PRACTITIONERS’ GROUP

Elaine Magee updated Members on the various initiatives being undertaken by the Practitioners’ Group and encourages Members to attend or make sure their councils was represented.

10.HR DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME UPDATE AND NEXT STEPS

Linda Leahy advised members that the first OD Master Class in the Series would be held on 23 November in the Mount and that the Core Project Team would have its inaugural meeting in January.

12.ANY OTHER BUSINESS

Members discussed anumber of items including CPC training and arrangements for planned public sector strike on 30 November.

13.DATE, TIME AND VENUE OF NEXT MEETING

Membersnoted that the date of the next scheduled coincided with the Conference.

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