Agenda item

Report of the Director of Human Resources.

The Committee considered a Report of the Director of Human Resources concerning the Corporation’s Bullying and Harassment procedure.

In response to a query, the Chair confirmed that the procedure applied to staff only. Member – staff relations was captured under the Member – Officer protocol.

In response to concerns that the document was too long and at times vague, officers explained they always aimed to keep policies and procedures short, digestible and practical, however, this specific document did need more detail set out so as to capture the whole grievance procedure. Officers stressed, however, that this was a draft iteration and they would try to cut down on the word count as well as making things more concrete with the finalised version.

Members were concerned that not enough focus was being given to whistleblowing, officers advised that employees were perfectly within the rights to raise issues such as bullying or harassment with senior officers outside of their own department or HR but that ultimately it was preferable from an employment law perspective to deal with those types of issues under the Employee Handbook procedure which, in effect, channels individual to raise personal issues with their manager(s) or HR in the first instance. The Director of HR and the Comptroller stressed, however, that whistleblowing had a very important role to play when it came to reporting issues such as health and safety breaches, fraud, or safeguarding concerns where the public interest was clearly under threat.

Officers confirmed that they will examine whether volunteers should be covered in the scope. It was felt that this was logical and practical step. The procedure still needs to be finalised and this point will be highlighted.

RESOLVED – that Members delegated authority to the Town Clerk, in consultation with the Chair and Deputy Chair, to approve the Bullying and Harassment Procedure at Appendix 1, subject to reviewing responses made to the wider stakeholder and formal trade union consultation.