Team member privy to more info than Line Manager

[Newyorklady]

How would you deal with a situation where your own staff member (reports to me) is being privy to more confidential information than the me who Manages the team).
situation where we are going through a period of restructure. Lots of changes going on that will directly impact my team.
Due to staff cuts on the Exec team one of my staff members is attending the meetings to Minute these meetings and is finding out key information than myself (the manager).
So they are now telling me about proposed changes before I am briefed.
I’ve raised this with my manager however his take on it is that staff member needs to maintain confidentiality and not tell me.
But to me that’s not the point.
We have explored removing the person from the meeting but Exec are not happy about that.
i feel undermined that when I do deliver the news of the changes to then the staff member will already know them.
Just seems so wrong to me.
Thoughts ?

The staff member needs a clear reminder of their role in the meeting (purely administrative) and the need to strictly maintain confidentiality. If they can’t do that they should face performance management. I think it’s particularly important in times of uncertainty because there’s often gossip and rumour flying around without anyone adding to it.

Jelly has it spot on.

Can you be sure the staff member isn’t sharing with anyone else? They need pulling up or someone else who can keep confidentiality takes on the admin role.

The staff member needs to be reminded that they must maintain strict confidentially about what is discussed at these meeting. The fact they are telling you would make me suspect that they are also tell their colleagues.

Could you offer to minute the meetings instead?

It's very common surely for people who minute high level meetings to be privy to information other at their grade don't have. And they should be used to keeping it confidential.