Issue - meetings

To receive the report from the Cabinet Member for Working Environment and Support Services.

The Committee received and NOTED the *report from the Cabinet Member for Working Environment and Support Services who gave an overview of the area’s within her remit.

Providing her overview she updated Members on the following:

·         Human Resources – A new post of Senior Business Support Manager had been introduced since the retirement of the Group Manager and would support structural changes across the Council

·         New job evaluation software had been introduced which would allow for a review of grades and roles

·         Gender pay gaps were being calculated and submitted by Payroll

·         Health and safety incidents had been investigated and the safety policies were all up to date

·         Learning and Development – All staff required training including health and safety policies. The apprenticeship levy had brought opportunities for existing staff

·         The Electoral Services team had undertaken three parish by-elections and one district by-election in Cranmore in the past 12 months. They were currently busy with the Town and District Elections and were making preparations for the European Elections

·         The Member Services team continued to support Members with IPads and the weekly information sheet. The Civic officer had organised a number of high profile Civic events including the 100 year anniversary of the end of the First World War and commemoration of the Suffrage Movement.

·         The Policy Research officer was leaving post and she wished him well for the future

·         Public Health continued to support residents with issues such as fuel poverty and the prevention of cardiovascular disease

·         The Customer Service team had reverted to cashless payments, saving the Council £24k per annum. There had been a fall in the number of face to face interactions with customers but a rise in on line contact

She explained that she represented the Council on Community Safety Partnership meetings and was on the Police and Crime Commissioners Scrutiny Committee.

In response to questions the Director of Corporate Affairs and Business Transformation stated she would provide salary costs and rationale on the changes in Human Resources to the Scrutiny Committee.

There was a general discussion about air quality reporting.

Members expressed concerns about the workload of the Elections team and that the European Elections would directly follow the upcoming District and Parish elections. The Director of Corporate Affairs and Business Transformation confirmed that additional staff would be brought in to assist the team.

Members discussed the Council’s approach to going cashless and expressed concerns that elderly people in the District did not have any electronic means to pay and were situated in rural areas where there was no access to Post Offices to pay by cheque. The Group Manager for Business Transformation and Customer Engagement explained that they received very few official complaints from residents since the new policy was introduced and where comments were received staff had been sign-posting alternative methods available. She explained to Members the different ways that customers could pay including setting up direct debits.

Note: *Report previously circulated and attached to the minutes