Subject:

Use of Urgency Powers- authorising the convening of a hybrid Personnel Appeal Panel meeting

Date of Meeting:

8 October 2020

Report of:

Chief Executive

Contact Officer:

Name:

Abraham. Ghebre-Ghiorghis

Tel:

01273 291500

 

Email:

Abraham.ghebre-ghiorghis@brighton-hove.gov.uk

Ward(s) affected:

All

 

FOR GENERAL RELEASE

 

 

1.         PURPOSE OF REPORT AND POLICY CONTEXT

 

1.1         To inform the Committee of the use of urgency powers in accordance with the Council’s Standing Orders.

 

2.         RECOMMENDATIONS:    

 

2.1         That the report be noted

 

3.            CONTEXT/ BACKGROUND INFORMATION

 

3.1         Under the Council’s current arrangements, all Council, Committee and Sub-Committee meetings have to be held virtually unless otherwise agreed by the Policy & Resources Committee.

 

3.2         For the reasons set out in the Decision-making record (attached in Appendix 1) it was not possible to have an all virtual meeting of the Personnel Appeals Panel for 28th September. Given that the next meeting of the Policy & Resources Committee is not until 8th October, it was decided to use Officer Urgency powers as to call a special committee or an urgency sub-committee would have been disproportionate and therefore not reasonably practicable in the circumstances.

 

4.            ANALYSIS & CONSIDERATION OF ANY ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS

 

4.1         These are set out in the decision record notice (Appendix 1.)

 

5.            COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT & CONSULTATION

 

Given the nature of the decision no community engagement of consultation was undertaken.

 

6.            CONCLUSION

 

6.1         For the reasons set out in the decision-notice authorising a hybrid meeting was necessary and proportionate.

 

7.         FINANCIAL & OTHER IMPLICATIONS:

 

Financial Implications:

 

7.1         There are none

 

            Finance Officer Consulted:     Peter Francis                                Date: 29/09.2020

 

Legal Implications:

 

7.2         The decision was taken in accordance with the Council’s procedures for the use of urgency powers.

                                                                   

            Lawyer Consulted: Abraham Ghebre-Ghiorghis                         Date: 27/09/2020

 

            Equalities Implications:

 

7.3         The decision taken was in line with the Council’s obligations under equaities legislation

 

            Sustainability Implications:

 

7.4         There are no matereial adverse sustainability implications arising from this report

 

Brexit Implications:

 

7.5         None

 

           

 

 

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

 

 

Appendices:

1.         Urgency decision record      

 

 

Background Documents

1.            None