EPPING FOREST DISTRICT COUNCIL
COMMITTEE MINUTES

Committee: Staff Appeals Panel Date:9 October 1992

Place: Committee Room 1, Civic Offices,Time:2.00 - 6.50 p.m.
High Street, Epping

Members
Present: Councillors Mrs Ashbridge (Chairman), Cousins, Mrs Ormston,
Robinson, Wilmot

Appearing for
the Appellant:D Smith (District Officer, NUPE)

Appearing for
the Council:N Webber (Chief Executive's)

Officers
Present: Miss C O'Boyle, I Willett (Chief Executive's)

1. MINUTES

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 12 November 1991 be taken as read and
signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

2. EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC AND PRESS

RESOLVED:

That, in accordance with Section 100 A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the
public and press be excluded from the meeting for the item of business set out
below on grounds that it will involve the likely disclosure of exempt
information as defined in the paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act
indicated:
Agenda Exempt Information
Item No Subject Paragraph Number

3 Staff Appeals Procedure 1

4 Appeals against Final 1
Written Warning and
Dismissal - Post 206/08

3. STAFF APPEALS PROCEDURE

The Panel noted a procedure for the conduct of disciplinary appeals as set out
in the Appendix circulated with the Agenda.

4. APPEAL BY MR T JONES - MECHANIC - PLANNING AND TECHNICAL SERVICES
DEPARTMENT

The Panel was advised that this case constituted two appeals by Mr Jones:

(a) against the issue of a final written warning as to his conduct; and

(b) against dismissal.

The Council's case was presented by Mr N Webber who called three witnesses. The
appellant's case was presented by Mr D Smith of NUPE who called only the
appellant as witness.

Following the submission of evidence, the Panel considered the two appeals in
private, following which the Chairman recalled officers and the appellant and
informed them of the Panel's decisions and the reasons for those decisions.

RESOLVED:

That the appeals against a final written warning and dismissal in this case be
dismissed.

RECOMMENDED:

(1) That the attention of all Chief Officers together with departmental,
section managers and supervisors be drawn to the importance of communicating
directly with employees as part of the disciplinary procedure and that all
meetings covered by the disciplinary procedure should be notified to employees
in writing; and
(2) That the Council should take urgent action to improve the monitoring and
reporting of health and safety issues so as to ensure that a prompt response
is always achieved when difficulties arise.