Issue - meetings

To receive the Annual Establishment update previously presented to the Cabinet on 4^th February 2021.

The Committee had before it, and NOTED, a *report of the Corporate Manager for People, Governance and Waste presenting the Establishment annual update.

The officer outlined the contents of the report and stated that it included updates on the key establishment indicators of sickness and agency expenditure, turnover and the impact of COVID-19 on our workforce.

He explained the work that had been ongoing on the engagement, development and wellbeing of the workforce and priorities for the coming year.

In response to questions asked the Corporate Manager for People, Governance and Waste provided the following responses:

·         Turnover was higher than the Council would have liked but there had been some challenges including proactive headhunting by another authority, restructuring and some challenging staffing issues to address

·         Forecast sickness absence was running at 6 days lost per FTE employee which compared favourably to both the private sector and public sector

·         When advising on people issues such as employee relation issues, retention and development that the impact on both the operational and financial performance had to be considered e.g. timescales, expenditure

·         A new staff survey would be launched in the autumn

There was a general discussion with regard to how the workforce had changed and adapted during the pandemic and that some staff had particularly enjoyed working from home and had been more productive.

The Chief Executive reassured Members that the authority was looking at the new normal and how it transitioned in the future. He explained that the initial approach to working from home had been a make do and mend approach which had developed over time and that the infrastructure would need to be investigated moving forward.

Notes:

    i.)        Cllr S J Penny left the meeting at 4.05pm

   ii.)        *Report previously circulated and attached to the minutes

To consider a report of the Corporate Manager for People, Governance and Waste informing Members of the overall structure of the Council showing the management and deployment of officers. This report should be read in conjunction with the functions of individual officers highlighted in the constitution.

The Cabinet had before it a * report of the Corporate Manager for People, Governance and Waste informing Members of the overall structure of the Council showing the management and deployment of officers.

The officer outlined the contents of the report stating that it set out the new senior management structure, performance of the workforce and sickness absence statistics

(Proposed by the Chairman)

Reason for the decision: The Constitution states that the Establishment should be received by Council annually.

Note:  *Report previously circulated, copy attached to minutes.