Issue - meetings

Report of Assistant Director Human Resources

Purpose of report

To provide the Personnel Committee with an update on Cherwell District Council’s workforce including measuring staff well-being and to highlight the actions officers are taking to address any issues.

Recommendations

The Personnel Committee resolves:

1.1       to review and note the workforce data for quarter 1 of 2025/26 provided in appendix one, devised to provide insight that will enable officers of CDC to address challenges and efficiencies in the workforce more efficiently.

Resolved        

(1)     That the workforce profile statistics for quarter 1 of 2025/26 (financial year dates) be noted.

The Assistant Director Human Resources submitted a report to update the Committee on Cherwell District Council’s (CDC) workforce as at the end of quarter 1 of 2025/26, including measuring staff well-being and highlighting the actions officers were taking to address any issues. 

In introducing the report, the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Services, Councillor Brant, advised that there were no issues, risks or concerns to highlight.

In response to a question regarding potential barriers to recruitment due to ethnicity, the Assistant Director Human Resources explained that the Councils recruitment process aimed to be as fair and transparent as possible, but that a review of the process was underway to ensure that any remaining barriers were removed or mitigated where practicable.

In response to a question regarding dismissals based on capability and the processes in place to prevent such dismissals, the Assistant Director Human Resources explained that such cases were rare. Should such a case arise, a review would be held to provide lessons learned to help prevent future occurrences.

Resolved        

(1)     That the workforce profile statistics for quarter 1 of 2025/26 (financial year dates) be noted.