To seek the views of the employment panel on the draft Staff Deployment Guidance.  This is to ensure Herefordshire Council are adhering to the Civil Contingencies Act 2004.  This is new guidance as we have previously relied on ‘good will’.

The chief executive presented the report and requested comments from the panel on the draft guidance. 

The guidance set out the payment of staff if they were redeployed in the case of emergencies or critical incidents and were required to work outside of their contracted hours.  

During the discussion it was noted:

·         The council had previously relied on the goodwill of staff to volunteer when critical or emergency incidents were declared.

·         The rates of pay were modest and did not necessarily reflect the rates of pay which staff receive for their contracted role.  

·         There was a one-off call in allowance of £50.

·         Staff could claim travel expenses.

·         There were a low number of critical or emergency incidents.  

·         That there were good links with all organisations including the military and police.

The head of HR and organisational development agreed to amend the guidance to make it clear that the rates of pay were in line with the council’s pay grades HC4 to HC6.

RESOLVED

That the panel endorse the proposals to approve the draft staff deployment guidance.