M Dewar, Acting Head of Service, M Convery, Head Teacher, St James Primary School, M Macdonald, Head Teacher, Castlehead High School, and L McAllister, Education Manager (Curriculum & Early Years) (all Children’s Services); and L Mullin, Principal HR & OD Adviser Principal HR Adviser (Finance & Resources).

M Russell, J Welsh, J McCusker, H Whittle, K Fella, and A Howie (all EIS); and G Glover (SSTA).

K Brown, Committee Services Officer (Finance & Resources).

The Chair advised that David Marshall, Head of HR & Organisational Development, had retired from the Council. The Committee expressed their thanks to David for his contribution to the work of the Committee.

Councillors Henry and Clark; P Macleod, Director of Children’s Services, G McKinlay, Head of Schools and J Trainer, Acting Head of Early Years & Inclusion (all Children’s Services); and R Hannah and JP Tonner (both EIS).

The terms of the local recognition and procedure agreement stipulates that the Chair of the Committee should alternate between the two sides comprising the Renfrewshire Council Joint Negotiating Committee for Teaching Staff. However, in the absence of Councillor Henry, it was agreed that John Welsh chair this meeting of the Renfrewshire Council Joint Negotiating Committee for Teaching Staff.

DECIDED: That John Welsh chair this meeting of the Renfrewshire Council Joint Negotiating Committee for Teaching Staff.

There was submitted the Minute of meeting held on 8 September, 2015.

The Acting Head of Service advised that he and the Head of Service had met with the teachers’ side in relation to the proposed amendment to JNC11. Further discussion was required in relation to this item and a further report would be submitted to a future meeting of the Committee.

DECIDED:

(a) That the Minute be approved; and

(b) That it be noted that further discussion was required in relation to the proposed amendment to JNC11 and that a further report would be submitted to a future meeting of the Committee.

There was submitted a report by the Head of Schools relative to the proposed revision to the management sides’ membership of the Renfrewshire Council Joint Negotiating Committee for Teaching Staff.

The report intimated that the membership of the Renfrewshire Council Joint Negotiating Committee for Teaching Staff was agreed at the meeting held on 16 June, 2015. As a result of recent staff changes within Renfrewshire Council, it was proposed that the membership of the Management Side be amended as follows:-





Management Side

Councillor J Henry
Councillor S Clark
P Macleod, Director of Children’s Services
G McKinlay, Head of Schools
M Dewar, Acting Head of Service
J Trainer, Acting Head of Early Years & Inclusion
L McAllister, Education Manager
M Convery, Head Teacher, St James Primary School
M MacDonald, Head Teacher, Castlehead Primary School
L Mullin, Principal HR & OD Adviser

It was also proposed that G McKinlay, Head of Schools be appointed as the Management Sides’ Joint Secretary.

DECIDED:

(a) That the revised Management Side membership be noted; and

(b) That it be agreed that G McKinlay, Head of Schools, be appointed as the Management Sides’ Joint Secretary.

There was submitted an update report by the Acting Head of Service relative to the working groups for 2015/16.

The report intimated that the Management Side and the Teachers’ Side had agreed to set up working groups to discuss key issues which would involve revisiting certain policies and JNC agreements in relation to discipline and grievance procedures; voluntary transfer policy for teachers/teachers transfer scheme; working time agreement; and absence management. The schedule of meetings for the working groups was detailed within the report.

DECIDED: That the schedule of meetings for the working groups that had been set up to discuss key issues that involved revisiting certain policies and JNC agreements as detailed within the report, be noted.

It was noted that the next meeting of the Renfrewshire Council Joint Negotiating Committee for Teaching Staff would be held on 2 February, 2016 at 2.00 p.m.

There was submitted a report by the Joint Secretaries relative to the pay and conditions of service agreement 2015/17.

The report intimated that the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT) was the mechanism by which pay and conditions for teachers were agreed at a national level. Membership of the SNCT was made up of representatives from COSLA, the teachers’ professional association and Scottish Government. Although Renfrewshire Council was no longer a member of COSLA, it had confirmed its continued adherence to the agreed pay and conditions as laid out by the SNCT. In October 2015, the SNCT had agreed proposals in relation to pay and conditions for teachers and associated professionals for 2015/17. A copy of the Pay and Conditions of Service Agreement 2015/17 was appended to the report.

A discussion took place relative to the statement within the Agreement that there needed to be a collective effort to ensure workload is manageable within the 35 hour working week. It was agreed that the Joint Secretaries would meet to discuss the establishment of an overseeing working group in relation to workload and then submit a report to a future meeting of the Committee.

DECIDED:

(a) That the content of the report be agreed; and

(b) That it be agreed that the Joint Secretaries would meet to discuss the establishment of an overseeing working group in relation to workload and then submit a report to a future meeting of the Committee.