Issue - meetings

Report of Assistant Director of 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 3 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 3 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 workforce as at the end of quarter 3 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, advised that there were no issues, risks or concerns to highlight.

In response to a question regarding the effects of staff absences on the waste collection department, the Assistant Director Human Resources explained that there were issues relating to both staff absence as well as vacancies that have been impacting the service, but that HR Business Partners were working with department managers to rectify and recruit.

In response to a question regarding reasons provided by staff leavers, and whether there were any follow up actions or tracking for patterns, the Assistant Director Human Resources explained that several measures were in place to monitor responses to exit interviews and should any concerns arise they were escalated appropriately.

In a follow up question regarding the low completion rate of exit interviews and whether interviews were held in an impartial manner, the Assistant Director Human Resources explained that exit interviews were not mandatory but encouraged, and that interviews were undertaken by a member of the HR team to ensure that they were open and impartial.

Resolved          

(1)     That the workforce profile statistics for quarter 3 of 2025/26 (financial year dates) be noted.