Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor J P Findlow and Tony Caffery, UNISON.

Councillor J Jackson declared a non-pecuniary interest that she was a member of GMB.

All members of the Committee had received a copy of an email from an Employee to the Chief Executive and Leader of the Council expressing their disappointment and opposition to any increment freeze.

In accordance with Procedure Rules Nos.11 and 35 a total period of 10 minutes is allocated for members of the public to address the Committee on any matter relevant to the work of the Committee.

Individual members of the public may speak for up to 5 minutes but the Chairman will decide how the period of time allocated for public speaking will be apportioned where there are a number of speakers.

Members of the public wishing to ask a question at the meeting should provide at least three clear working days’ notice in writing and should include the question with that notice. This will enable an informed answer to be given.  It is not required to give notice of the intention to make use of public speaking provision, however, as a matter of courtesy, a period of 24 hours notice is encouraged.

There were no members of the public present.

To approve the minutes of the meetings held on 12 April 2012, 25 June 2012 and 13 July 2012.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 12 April 2012, 25 June 2012 and 13 July 2012 be confirmed as a correct record.

To consider a report on the progress with Human Resource issues

The Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development, aided by the HR Strategy and OD Manger, presented a report which provided a general update on Human Resource issues, including Health & Safety, Organisational Development, HR Delivery and HR Policy and Reward.

Health and Safety

A total of 1380 accidents reports were entered onto PRIME in Quarter 1, of which 31 were RIDDOR reportable to the Health & Safety Executive.  This represented a continuing downward trend in the number of reportable incidents which were occurring, quarter on quarter.

A total of 149 delegates had attended 16 Health and Safety training courses and briefings. Courses included Use of Defibrillator, Manual Handling and Tool Box Talks.

Following a visit from HSE in March 2012, the development of Route Risk Assessments in the Waste & Recycling service was a priority.  The process involved the identification of hazards which drivers and loaders could encounter on all of the 580 collections rounds in the Borough.  Symbols had been attached to ‘Lookout’ sheets for each road to highlight the hazards.  Briefing sessions had been held with the Trade Union representatives to keep them involved and updated on progress.

Organisational Development

Seventy young people were currently on apprenticeship placements across the Council.  The recent A Team Conference and Awards Ceremony had been a huge success.  Sixteen apprentices had been nominated for the Apprentice of the Year award.  The A Team had also been recognised as national finalists in the Training Journal’s Best Apprenticeship Programme in the UK.  The winner was expected to be announced in November. 

Five new management trainees had started a two year graduate programme and had commenced their first of four, 6 month placements. 

The Learning Lounge had been successfully launched and more than 800 employees had already enrolled on the on-line programmes. The on-line training complemented other forms of learning by providing a cost effective and flexible means of learning in bite size pieces.

HR Delivery

The HR Delivery Team was focusing on attendance management.  A range of actions had been taken to address sickness absence across the Council.  Reports highlighting employees who had met triggers within the Attendance Management Procedure have been taken to Directorate and Senior Management Teams.  Absence management training was being delivered and there had been an increase in the use of case reviews involving managers, HR and Occupational Health Physicians.  A range of Health and Wellbeing events had been organised to promote a healthy lifestyle and raise awareness of important health issues.

One of the measures which could be adopted to manage sickness absence and provide an alternative cost effective counselling and support service for staff would be the introduction of an Employee Assistance Programme.  It had been found that if employees are referred for help/advise and counselling at an earlier stage, they were far less likely to have an extended period of absence and more likely to be able to control their individual stress levels.  

HR Policy and Strategy

In order to improve understanding of Equality and Diversity a mandatory  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.

The report relating to the remaining item on the agenda has been withheld from public circulation and deposit pursuant to Section 100(B)(2) of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that the matters may be determined with the press and public excluded.

The Committee may decide that the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items pursuant to Section 100(A)4 of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 4 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 and public interest would not be served in publishing the information.

RESOLVED:

That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of the following items pursuant to Section 100(A)4 of the Local Government Act 1972 as amended on the grounds that they involved the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 4 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 and public interest would not be served in publishing this information.

• Cheshire East Council’s 3 Year Plan
• Cheshire East Council’s Budget Process 2013-2014
• Inclusion of Streetscape and Parking Maintenance Activities within the Highway Service Contract

The Trade Union representatives raised issues in relation to the following items:

• Cheshire East Council’s 3 Year Plan
• Cheshire East Council’s Budget Process 2013-14
• Inclusion of Streetscape and Parking Maintenance Activities within the Highway Service Contract

To consider the report of the Head of HR and Organisational Development

The Trade Union representatives made a statement on the proposal to the Committee before leaving the meeting.

The Committee considered a report which set out the considerations, issues and risks relating to a second year increment freeze. 

A summary of the comments made by employees on Team Talkback was circulated to the Committee.

RESOLVED:

That the Chief Executive be recommended to exercise their delegated authority in relation to the increment freeze.