EPPING FOREST DISTRICT COUNCIL
COMMITTEE MINUTES

Committee: Staff Appeals Panel Date:30 November 1995

Place: Committee Room 1, Civic Offices,Time:2.00 - 7.25 p.m.
High Street, Epping

Members
Present: Councillors P Burns (Vice-Chairman in the Chair), S Barnes, Mrs J
O'Brien
Apologies: Councillor Mrs J Knight (Chairman)

Appearing for
the Council:Miss C O'Boyle (Chief Executive's)

Officer
Present: S G Hill (Chief Executive's)

1. MINUTES

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 29 January 1993 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 100A(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 the grounds that it would involve the likely disclosure of exempt
information as defined in the paragraph of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act
indicated:
Agenda Exempt Information
Item No Subject Paragraph Number

4 Appeal against Summary 1
Dismissal - Mr T Haak

3. STAFF APPEALS PROCEDURE

The Panel noted the procedure for the conduct of disciplinary appeals set out
in the Appendix circulated with the agenda. The Chairman also drew the
Panel's attention to a clerical error in the agenda whereby Councillor Wardle
was shown as a panel member despites his having been replaced by Councillor F
Silver by the Council in July 1995. The Panel noted that they were quorate
and the appellant and the Council side confirmed that they were happy to
proceed with the meeting.

4. APPEAL AGAINST DISMISSAL - MR T HAAK, FORMER ENVIRONMENTAL
MAINTENANCE OFFICER (POST PHT/10)

The Panel was advised that this was an appeal by Mr T Haak against dismissal
relating to an alleged falsification of records of official mileage for
personal gain.

 The Council's case was presented by Miss C O'Boyle who called Mr R
Borrow (Group Engineer, Highway Services, Planning and Technical Services), Mr
K Sharman (Head of Planning and Technical Services) and Mr G Page (Chief
Internal Auditor) as witnesses. The appellant was present with his
father-in-law, Mr D Bristow and representative Mr Crosfill (Free
Representation Unit.)
Following submissions by both sides and cross-examination, the Panel
considered the appeal in private session, following which the Chairman
recalled officers, the appellant and representatives and informed them of the
Panel's decision and the reasons for that decision.

RESOLVED:

That the appeal be upheld on the following grounds:

(i) the Panel does not believe that Mr Haak deliberately falsified his mileage
claims for personal gain or to gain pecuniary advantage to others; and

(ii) by custom and practice the method of completing the 'Route/Places Visited'
section of the car mileage claim form has resulted in ambiguities in the
completed form giving a precis rather than an accurate description.

RECOMMENDED:

That a personal 'log book' system be introduced as soon as possible for
Environmental Maintenance Officers and other appropriate personnel in which
mileage, accurate description of work undertaken, destinations in true
sequence etc. is kept on a daily basis and is periodically inspected and
initialled by the Chief Officer/Authorised Signatory.