Personnel meeting

Question

How is a personnel meeting arranged? Our chair of personnel doesn’t like having meetings as he’s so pally with the acting clerk. Two councillors have requested a meeting to discuss matters but the chair is refusing to arrange a meeting saying it’s only full council that can call one. Can anyone help please. He’s said the acting clerk is looking into it but the clerk has previously said at a full council meeting that if two request one he can call it.

Answer 1

The fact that you have a "chair of personnel" implies you already have a committee set up.  It is usual for a schedule of committee meetings to be agreed a the annual meeting of the council which will be next month.  The NALC model standing orders state that the council determines which committees it has, the number of members and quorum and when meetings are held so assuming you have adopted the model set, make sure meetings of the personnel committee are scheduled in the annual programme.

Comments

Hi. Yes we have a committee but the chair of pc seems to think it only works adhoc and that we only call a meeting when full council ask for one. Other personnel committee members feel we have things to discuss and requested one but chair is refusing saying full council haven’t asked and he will only call one if we have a complaint against someone!!

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Play the game and ask for it to be included at your next council meeting.
Personnel matters aren't just about dealing with complaints against staff, they should be reviewing health and safety matters (risk assessments etc.) for staff, staff workload, appraisals (which should be annually), etc.  The council has a responsibility towards its staff members and are clearly not fulfilling that function.