Wainfleet All Saints Staffing Committee

Terms of Reference

Wainfleet All Saints Town Council – Staffing Committee & Appeals Group - Summary

Purpose The Staffing Committee oversees all employment matters relating to the Town Clerk, including recruitment, appraisal, performance management, training, wellbeing, and any disciplinary or grievance processes. It ensures the Council meets its legal obligations as an employer and follows best practice.

Membership

  • Staffing Committee: 3 councillors
  • Formal Appraisal Group: These same 3 councillors
  • Appeals Group: 2 councillors (must not sit on the Staffing Committee)

Why two groups? To ensure fairness, transparency, and compliance with employment law. Anyone involved in an original decision cannot take part in an appeal.

Delegated Authority The Staffing Committee is authorised to:

  • Conduct the Clerk’s annual appraisal
  • Manage recruitment and selection
  • Oversee training and professional development
  • Manage disciplinary, grievance, and capability procedures
  • Recommend salary and contractual changes
  • Seek external HR/legal advice where needed
  • Take urgent action to protect the Council’s interests (reported back to Council)

Meetings & Confidentiality

  • Meets at least twice per year, plus additional meetings as required
  • All staffing matters are held in confidential session
  • Minutes are taken by a Committee Member
  • All members must maintain strict confidentiality

Appeals Group Role

  • Hears appeals relating to disciplinary, grievance, or capability matters
  • Considers only the appeal, not the original investigation
  • Decisions are final within the Council’s internal procedures

Policies & Governance the Committee operates under:

  • Standing Orders
  • Employment Policies
  • NJC Terms and Conditions
  • Relevant employment legislation
  • NALC/SLCC best practice

Annual Review Terms of Reference are reviewed each year at the Annual Meeting of the Town Council.

 

Formal Resolution Wording for Council Adoption

Formal Resolution

RESOLVED: That Wainfleet All Saints Town Council approves and adopts the Terms of Reference for the Staffing Committee as presented, establishing:

  1. A Staffing Committee of three councillors with delegated authority to manage all employment matters relating to the Town Clerk.
  2. A Formal Appraisal Group, consisting of the same three councillors, responsible for conducting the Clerk’s annual appraisal and performance reviews.
  3. A separate Appeals Group of two councillors, who shall not serve on the Staffing Committee and shall hear any appeals arising from disciplinary, grievance, or capability procedures.
  4. The inclusion of provisions relating to confidentiality, emergency decision‑making, and the ability to seek external professional HR or legal advice where appropriate.
  5. That these Terms of Reference be reviewed annually at the Annual Meeting of the Town Council.

RESOLVED: That the Clerk updates the Council’s governance documents accordingly and publishes the Terms of Reference within the Council’s policy framework.

This was adopted at the town council meeting 7th October 2026, minute number 7. This will be reviewed in 2 years time, October 2028.