Agenda item

To receive an update on progress with Health and Safety, Human Resource and Organisational Development items 

The Committee considered a report on the progress with Health and Safety matters.

The report provided details of the number of health and safety courses undertaken, the inspections carried out and the accident and incident figures reported on PRIME in quarter 3.

The Committee considered a report on the progress with Human Resource and Organisational Development matters.

The report provided details on progress with the Council’s Workforce Strategy, Organisational Design, Leadership and Management training, the Corporate Training programme, staff recruitment and retention, reward and recognition, the Council’s sickness absence rate, and provision of Education HR Consultancy.

Plans were being developed to run a staff survey in June 2016.  The Committee asked to see the survey questions prior to them being finalised and also requested that the results, with  a question by question comparison, be shared with them.  It was noted that the ADSVs would also be carrying out staff surveys and it was agreed that result be compared with that of the Council’s survey.

It was noted that training sessions had been held on Child Sexual Abuse and Child Sexual Exploitation.  The Committee asked for the details of attendance at these training sessions, including how many had not yet attended the training.

Following the ruling in the Bear Scotland case, HR policies were being reviewed in relation to pay during holiday and sick leave.  The Committee requested that a report be brought outlining the holiday pay proposals, the cost implications of possible claims and risk to Council, and that management consider communications of the decision to staff..

Details of the April to September 2015 recorded absence information and actions being taken to manage attendance were detailed in Appendix 1 to the Report.  It was agreed that a small group of Staffing Committee members be established to explore how absence management could be improved. 

It was noted that in Quarter 3, 124 employees had left the Council and that not all of those who had left completed exit interviews. The Committee asked if the exit interview process could be reinvigorated.

Arising from the information and data presented in the report a number of actions were agreed by the Committee.

RESOLVED:

1          That the report be noted.

2          Details be provided of the five Academies who had not brought back Health and Safety services, and if known, the reasons for not doing so.

3          Clarification be provided on how the ASDVs are charged for support provided by the Health and Safety Team.

4          The staff survey questions be shared with the Staffing Committee prior to final agreement.  The results, with a question by question comparison, be shared with the Committee and the survey results be compared with the ADSVs results, if available.

5          Details be provided of how many staff and Elected Members have attended Child Sexual Abuses and Child Sexual Exploitation training.

6          Details be provided on the Cygnet Pathway pilot and how its success will be measured.

7          As a result of the Bear Scotland case, a report to be brought to the next Committee outlining the holiday pay proposals.

8          In relation to Voluntary Redundancies, future reports to include a breakdown of the total severance cost by function and service and the Staffing Committee be provided with assurances that mechanisms are in place to ensure that the savings are realised.  Comparator information on voluntary redundancy terms in Councils in the North West also to be provided.

9          To establish a small working group, comprising of Councillors B Moran, J Jackson, D Marren and JP Findlow, to explore further how absence management can be improved.

10        To consider the inclusion in future reports of other absence measures, such as the number/ percentage of staff who have no sickness.

11        The Staffing Committee be provided with the link to the wellbeing/stress guidance on the Centranet site.

12        In relation to Education HR Consultancy, future reports to include further information including the total number of schools, the breakdown of take up by primary, secondary and academies.

13        A corrected version of the quarter 3 2015-16 HR Performance Data table be provided to the Staffing Committee and the reason for the Headcount/FTE table commencing at August 2014 be provided.

14        Consideration be given to reinvigorating the exit interview progress.

15        Details of the confidentiality clause in Settlement Agreement be provided to the Staffing Committee.