Agenda and draft minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee Meetings held on 2 July 2024 and 28 November 2024.

The Minutes of the meetings held on 2 July 2024 and 28 November 2024 were approved as true and correct records and signed by the Chairman.

To remind Members of the need to record the existence and nature of any personal, disclosable pecuniary or other registrable interests in items on the agenda, in accordance with the Members’ Code of Conduct.

There were no declarations of interest received.

Purpose: The Council is required, in accordance with section 38 of the Localism Act 2011, to publish an annual pay policy statement. This report seeks to secure compliance with that duty, by seeking approval of the Statutory Pay Policy Statement for publication.

Karen Turner introduced the report (Agenda Item 4) and explained that the Council was required to publish apay policy statement on an annual basis. Members were being asked to endorse the report prior to it being referred to Full Council for approval.

Councillor Jeff Brooks highlighted that HAY pay scales were being used and sought confirmation that the percentage differential between the salary of the highest and lowest paid workers was being maintained. Karen Turner confirmed this was the case.

Councillor Biyi Oloko queried whether all local authorities adopted the same pay scales. Councillor Brooks advised that the majority did so, he clarified that the authority was not required to adopt them but was guided by them.

Councillor Matt Shakespeare recommended a histogram be created that showed the number of staff at each grade.

Actions:

• Create a histogram that showed the number of staff at each grade.

RESOLVED that: The Statutory Pay Policy be recommended for approvalby Full Council on 27 March 2025.

Purpose: This report is an information only report for the purposes of updating on HR activity for Q1 and Q2 of 2024/2025 for Personnel Committee, Corporate Board and Operations Board. This data excludes school workforce data. This report is part of a bi-annual updates to the Personnel Committee and sets out some of the changes to HR activity and statistics in the current year. The report includes some of the detail behind the key statics, including to directorate level.

Karen Turner introduced the report (Agenda Item 5) which provided an update on HR activity for quarters one and two of 2024/25. The report formed part of the bi-annual update to the Committee and outlined some of the changes to HR activity and statistics throughout the current financial year.

Karen Turner highlighted that there had been an increase in the amount of case work for HR, she advised that there had been significant recruitment activity and that turnover for all staff had increased by 1%. It was also noted that sickness absence had increased from 8.75 days to 10.24 days per employee when compared to the same period in the previous year.

Councillor Biyi Oloko queried the percentage of the overall budget that was committed to salary costs. Councillor Jeff Brooks advised that someone from Finance would need to answer Councillor Oloko’s question but estimated that around 60% of the budget was dedicated to covering salaries.

Councillor Oloko noted the headcount had dropped between 2021 and 2024 however, the number of full-time employees (FTES) was going up. He sought clarity on why this was. Councillor Brooks advised that post FTE had reduced from 1767 to 1637 meaning this figure was becoming more closely aligned to 2021/22 figures.

It was clarified that post FTE was the total number of posts whereas occupied FTE were the posts that had someone assigned to them.

Councillor Brooks highlighted that iTrent had been used to refine the number of vacant posts. He noted the table on page 28 of the pack which equated to about 70 posts that the authority was actively looking to recruit to.

Councillor Oloko sought clarity on the context behind the number of agency workers employed by the Council. Sam Hodson advised that temporary workers were recruited through the Council’s Comensura contract. She noted that the temporary workers were not reported in the figures however, they were potentially filling a post contained within.

Councillor Oloko highlighted the need for clarity on the effect privatisation of local care homes was to have on headcount.

Councillor Antony Amirtharaj noted that three people had very sadly died in service and sought assurance that the authority was offering support to colleagues. Karen Turner reassured Members that the Council had offered support to those affected.

Councillor Jeff Brooks advised that he was pushing for HR to be involved in exit interviews.

Karen Turner highlighted Appendix A of the report which contained the figures pertaining to starters, leavers and staff turnover for the previous five years.

Councillor Amirtharaj queried whether there was any change in the authority’s approach to home working. Karen Turner advised that the Cd a flexible working policy that had been in place for a number of years.

Councillor Brooks asserted that he wanted to see figures that showed the number of people that were leaving the Council within one year of employment.

Councillor Oloko noted that the number of new starters between the ages of 55 and 64 was relatively low whilst the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

Meeting required in week commencing 15 July 2025.

The Committee agreed to hold the next meeting on 15 July at 7pm.