Leader's Announcements
To receive such announcements as may be made by the Leader.
Minutes:
In summary, the Leader of the Council:-
1. Noted that the meeting was the last Council meeting of the summer and wished those who had holidays booked a well-earned break. However, she stated that the work of Members, and the organisation would continue, with its challenging and productive agenda over the remaining summer weeks.
2. Referred to an event which had taken place earlier in the afternoon where many Members had joined her to formally launch the Council’s new vision for workplace culture, behaviours and the employee deal. This was a key moment in the Council’s Brighter Future Together Culture programme, and she considered it right to take time to recognise this important achievement. In addition to the event in Sandbach, events had been held across Cheshire East in the Council’s key office buildings, as the formal launch was rolled-out to key audiences. Over one thousand members of staff, Councillors and union representatives had contributed to the development of these key documents, and she believed that each and every one should feel a real sense of ownership; and must recognise that, important as this day was, this was just one step on the journey to shape and embed the culture of Cheshire East Council. Officers and managers were now embarking on a journey to use these documents to shape the way they worked together.
3. Welcomed the judgment of the previous week’s Employment Tribunal. The complainant had alleged that she had been treated unfairly, and dismissed, due to her making a whistleblowing disclosure relating to payment of the national minimum wage for staff working sleep-in shifts. The Tribunal had fully rejected and dismissed these claims, following a thorough, 10-day hearing, which had concluded on 15 June 2018. She regretted that this matter could not be resolved prior to legal proceedings but, after full consideration of the circumstances, it had been felt that there was no alternative but to defend the allegations made by the complainant. Staff were the Council’s most important asset and were essential for the effective delivery of Council services. She stated that the Council was committed to ensuring that all of its staff felt safe and were able to raise any concerns they may have about work matters. She went on to refer to a range of processes and procedures that the Council had to support staff where they had concerns.
4. Referred to the Council’s Chief Executive, Mike Suarez’s, recent resignation from his post with immediate effect and reassured Council that the current interim management arrangements remained in place. She stated that the Council had been working under these arrangements for over a year now and the Corporate Leadership Team was operating as a strong, cohesive unit. While this time had been difficult in many ways, she was proud to say that Cheshire East Council had continued to deliver excellence for service users, residents, and businesses. She went on to thank each and every member of staff for their dedication and commitment.
5. Welcomed ... view the full minutes text for item 19