Agenda and minutes

To appoint a Chairman for the Municipal Year 2021/22.

RESOLVED that Councillor Lewanski be appointed Chairman of the Employment Committee for the Municipal Year 2021/22.

To appoint a Vice-Chairman for the Municipal Year 2021/22.

RESOLVED that Councillor Brunt be appointed Vice-Chairman of the Employment Committee for the Municipal Year 2021/22.

To receive any apologies for absence and notification of any substitutes in accordance with the Constitution.

There were none.

To receive any declarations of interest.

There were none.

To approve the minutes of the meeting of the Committee on 31 March 2021.

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting held on 31 March 2021, be approved.

RESOLVED that the Responsibility for Functions of the Employment Committee, set out in Part 3a of the Constitution, and Procedure Rule 9 – Officer Employment, set out in Part 4 of the Constitution, be noted.

Report to follow.

The Head of Organisational Development and HR presented the report which provided a high-level summary of workforce data, including sickness absence, employee turnover and equalities data.

The Interim Head of Strategic Resources explained how responding to the pandemic had given the Council the opportunity to review how it wanted the organisation to look, feel and operate in the future. The biggest Organisational Development priority for 2021/22 would be the ‘Enabling Hybrid Working’ Programme of work. The programme would be guided by core principles including: the safety of staff, necessity, mutual agreement, behavioural change, and sustainability.

In response to a question, the Leader explained that there was a Member Steering Group for the Enabling Hybrid Working programme, and there would be an Overview and Scrutiny Panel to contribute to the programme.

To receive a verbal update on the anticipated timescales for 2022/23.

The Interim Head of Paid Service explained how the pay award negotiations would align with Budget and MTFS preparations in the autumn. Consequently, the next meeting of the Committee, set for September, would be moved to October. Members felt that it would be helpful if a comparison between local and national pay scales could be provided to Members in advance of the next meeting.

To discuss training for Employment Committee Members.

Acknowledging that a new Member had joined the Committee this year, it was noted that nearly all the Members and Substitutes of the Employment Committee had previously participated in externally provided training on employment law. Members endorsed a fresh approach that would enable Employment Committee Members to understand the Council’s own training and guidance given to Managers in recruitment.

RESOLVED that the Head of Organisational Development & HR provide to Committee Members the same training and guidance given to recruiting Managers at the Council.

To consider the draft 2021/22 Work Programme.

RESOLVED that subject to the date of the September meeting being moved to October to better align with the start of the pay negotiation process, the work programme be agreed.

RECOMMENDED that members of the Press and public be excluded from the meeting for this item of business under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that:

(i)             it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act; and

(ii)            the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

RESOLVED that members of the Press and public be excluded from the meeting for this item of business under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that:

(i)             it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act; and

(ii)            the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

The Leader of the Council and the Interim Head of Paid Service provided an update on the Council’s Senior Management arrangements.  

To consider any item(s) which, in the opinion of the Chair, should be considered as a matter of urgency – Local Government Act 1972, Section 100B(4)(b).

Note: Urgent business must be submitted in writing but may be supplemented by an oral report.

There was none.