The Appointments and Conditions of Service Committee meeting scheduled for 13 April 2026 was set to discuss policies related to staff checks, pay agreements for specific employee groups, and the pay and appraisal frameworks for teachers employed directly by the local authority. The committee was also scheduled to confirm the minutes from a previous meeting.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check Policy

A revised Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check Policy was scheduled for discussion. The proposed updates aimed to reflect the service's name change and included expanded sections on contractors, clearer definitions of regulated activity, and updated information on DBS checks for individuals who have spent time outside the UK. The policy also outlined roles and responsibilities for managing DBS information, including security, confidentiality, and retention. The report recommended the approval of this revised policy.

Ratification of the Soulbury Pay Agreement 2025/2026

The committee was to consider the ratification of the Soulbury Pay Agreement for 2025/2026. This agreement, effective from 1 September 2025, proposed a 3.2% increase on all pay points and allowances for employees on Soulbury Committee terms and conditions. The report noted that consultation with local Joint Trade Unions had taken place and that the Council had previously agreed to reflect national pay agreements for Soulbury employees. The recommendation was for the committee to note the pay awards applied following the national agreements.

Pay and Appraisal Policies for Teachers Employed by the Local Authority and Not Attached to Schools

The meeting was scheduled to address the Pay and Appraisal policies for teachers employed directly by Derbyshire County Council, who are not attached to individual schools. This included noting the nationally agreed School Teachers' Pay Award effective from 1 September 2025, which proposed a 4% uplift. The revised Pay Policy was set to retain performance-related pay, a point of disagreement with some trade unions and professional associations. The Appraisal Policy was updated to reflect recommendations from the DfE's Teacher Workload Advisory Group and included a flowchart to guide service leads in managing concerns about teacher practice. The committee was asked to approve these revised policies.