Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillors R Bailey, D Brown, D Flude, J Jackson, D Marren and M Parsons.

To provide an opportunity for Members and Officers to declare any disclosable pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests in any item on the agenda.

No declarations were made.

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 body in question.  

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.

No members of the public were present.

To approve the minutes of the meetings held on 27 October 2016 and 8 December 2016

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meetings held on 25 October 2016 and 8 December 2016 be confirmed as a correct record.

To receive a report on the progress with the Council’s People Plan 2016-17

The Committee considered a report on the progress with the Council’s People Plan 2016/17. 

The report provided details on the progress with the main priorities for each HR service area in the People Plan, and on HR performance Data for Quarter 3 which included headcount and employee turnover, voluntary redundancy and working days lost to sickness absence.

The report also provided a summary of accidents and incidents in Quarter 3 and details of the RIDDOR  reportable accidents.  

It was agreed that the employee turnover table, at paragraph 13.2 of the report, be amended to include an additional column to show the number of leavers excluding those who TUPE transferred to ADSVs and that the revised table to be circulated to Staffing Committee members. The revised table format to be included in future reports. 

The Committee noted that the take up of places on training courses was reported at 72% and asked for clarification of what the percentage was a measurement of – it was assumed to be delegate attendance; actions in place to increase take up of places and any further actions that could be taken.

RESOLVED:  That

1        the report be noted;

2        the employee turnover table be amended to include an additional column to show the number of leavers excluding those who TUPE transferred to ADSVs and the revised table to be circulated to Staffing Committee members; and

3        clarification be provided on take up of places on training courses and the actions taken to increase the take up.

To consider a report on the Pay Policy Statement for 2017/18 and make a recommendation to Council for approval and publication

The Committee considered a report on the Draft Pay Policy Statement for 2017/18.

The Council was required under section 38 of the Localism Act 2011 to produce a Pay Policy Statement by 31 March on an annual basis.

Changes since last year’s Statement were outlined in Section 12 of the report and related to a small change in the broad remuneration ranges for Chief Officers due to a 1% national pay increase in April 2016, and the Government’s consultation on a range of reforms to exit payments across the public sector.

RESOLVED: That

1        the changes since the 2016/17 Pay Policy Statement be noted, as outlined in Section 12.2 of the report; and

2        Council be recommended to approve and publish the Pay Policy Statement for 2017/18.

To consider a report on the Reassurance Project and make a recommendation to Cabinet for endorsement

The Committee considered a report on the Reassurance Project, which detailed the work undertaken and sought Cabinet endorsement on the outcome.

A cross party Working Group had been established in May 2016 to provide assurance that the wellbeing of staff was aligned to best practice and organisational values. 

The review carried out by the Working Group included

·       a desk based exercise to review the Council’s policies and procedures, conducted independently by North West Employers

·       independent research by North West Employers to ensure best practice was being followed

·       consideration of the Staff Survey results

·       quick wins being identified and implemented

·       interviews and focus group with staff and views sought of Elected Members through the Working Group

The Working Group concluded that the wellbeing of staff was aligned to best practice and values and that there were appropriate HR processes in place for staff to speak out on matters of concern and suggested that further training should be made available to all staff  to reduce negative behaviours in the workplace.

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet be recommended to endorse the outcome of the Reassurance Project.