Personnel Committee – Wednesday 14 January 2026 at 6:30pm

Agenda and Minutes

Present: Councillors Sheila Bibb, Nigel Bowler, Richard Craig, Dennis Dannatt, Paul Hooton, Paul Key, Doug Owles, Kenneth Woolley

In Attendance:
Rachel Allbones                  Town Clerk
Sean Alcock                        Operations Manager

Venue: Meeting room, Richmond House, Richmond Park, Morton Terrace, Gainsborough, DN21 2RJ.

PC26/038  Apologies for Absence
To note apologies for absence.

Minutes:
No apologies were received.

PC26/039  Declarations of Interest
To receive any declarations of interest in accordance with the requirements of the Localism Act 2011.

Minutes:
No declarations of interest were made.

PC26/040  Dispensation Requests
To consider any dispensation requests received by the Town Clerk in relation to personal and/or disclosable pecuniary interests, not previously recorded.

Minutes:
No dispensation requests were received.

PC26/041  Items for Exclusion of Public and Press
To determine which items on the agenda, if any, require the exclusion of public and press under the Public Bodies (Admissions to Meetings) Act 1960, section 1 (2), and to resolve accordingly.

Minutes:
RESOLVED: to exclude the public and press from items PC26/047, PC26/048 and PC26/049 in accordance with the Public Bodies (Admissions to Meetings) Act 1960 1 (2) due to the confidential nature of the business to be discussed.

PC26/042  Minutes of the Previous Meeting (Paper A pages 4 to 6)
To receive and resolve to sign as a true and accurate record the minutes of the Personnel Committee meeting held on Wednesday 12 November 2025.

Minutes:
RESOLVED: that the minutes of the Personnel Committee meeting held on Wednesday 8 October 2025 be approved as a as a true and accurate record and signed by the Chair.
Note: Councillor Craig abstained from voting on the above resolution.

PC26/043  Lincolnshire Pension Fund (Paper B pages 7 to 25)
To note the draft Lincolnshire Pension Fund 2025 valuation results and proposed contribution rates from 1 April 2026 and consider formally approving the contribution rates (primary and secondary, where appropriate) for the next three years.

Minutes:
RESOLVED: To note the draft Lincolnshire Pension Fund 2025 valuation results and proposed contribution rates from 1 April 2026 and approve the contribution rate of 19.2% for the next three years.

PC26/044  HR Audit December 2025 (Paper C pages 26 to 40)
To consider HR compliance report from the Council’s HR adviser, any necessary actions, and note certification gained.

Minutes:
RESOLVED: To note the HR compliance report from the Council’s HR adviser, and certification gained.

PC26/045  Neonatal Care Leave Policy (Paper D pages 41 to 46)
To consider recommending the adoption of the Neonatal Care Leave Policy.to Full Council.

Minutes:
RESOLVED: To RECOMMEND to FULL COUNCIL to adopt a Neonatal Care Leave Policy.

PC26/046  Marshalls Cleaning Provision (Paper E pages 47 to 49)
To consider future cleaning provision at Marshalls Sports Ground.

Minutes:
RESOLVED: To extend current arrangement with Office Maid until 31 March 2027, then reevaluate.

PC26/047  Caretaker Provision (Paper F pages 50 to 58)
To consider the future provision of caretaking services.
Exclusion of Public and Press recommended due to personal nature of discussion.

Minutes:
RESOLVED: That consideration of Caretaker Provision be deferred until the next meeting, pending receipt of a report addressing the following:
i. Opportunities for generating additional income
ii. Lost revenue arising from declined bookings
iii. Whether the Office Maid could undertake spot checks between bookings and potentially open the building for one-off bookings
iv. The feasibility of a job-share arrangement, up to a total of 40 hours
v. The feasibility of employing two Caretakers, with a combined total of up to 40 hours
vi. For items (iv) and (v), a quantification of hours required

PC26/048  Staff Sickness, Absence and Leave (Paper G pages 59 to 61)
To receive the sickness absence and holiday report and consider any necessary action.
Exclusion of Public and Press recommended due to personal nature of discussion.

Minutes:
RESOLVED: To note the sickness absence and holiday report.

PC26/049  Annual Staff Appraisals (Paper H pages 62 to 64)
To consider the outcomes of the recent annual staff appraisals.
Exclusion of Public and Press recommended due to personal nature of discussion.

Minutes:
RESOLVED: To note the outcomes of the recent annual staff appraisals.

PC26/050  Items for Notification
To receive any items for notification to be included on a future agenda (for information only)

Minutes:
RESOLVED: to NOTE the items for notification to be included on a future agendas:
i. Call-out Provision
ii. Shared Parental Leave Policy Review
iii. Adoption Leave Policy Review
iv. Parental Bereavement Policy Review
v. Child and Vulnerable Adult Welfare and Safeguarding Policy Review
vi. No Smoking Policy Review
vii. Mobile Phone Policy Review
viii. Expenses Policy Review
ix. Electronic Information and Communication Systems Policy Review

PC26/051  Time and Date of Next Meeting
To note the next Personnel Committee meeting is scheduled for Wednesday 11 March 2026 at 6:30pm.

Minutes:
RESOLVED: to NOTE the next Personnel Committee meeting scheduled for Wednesday 11 March 2026 at 6:30pm at Richmond House, Morton Terrace.

The meeting closed at 7:21pm.