Agenda, decisions and minutes

There were no petitions or requests to address the meeting.

There were no items of urgent business.

To confirm as correct records the Minutes of the meetings of the Committee held on 15 March 2023 and 23 May 2023.

The Minutes of the meetings of the Committee held on 15 March 2023 and 23 May 2023 were confirmed as correct records and signed by the Chairman.

To receive communications from the Chairman.

There were no Chairman’s announcements

Report of Chief Executive

Purpose of report

To seek approval from the Personnel Committee on proposed changes to existing HR policies.

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

1.1     to review and approve the following policies for implementation:

          - Sickness Absence Policy

          - Organisational Change Policy

          - Disciplinary Policy and Procedure

          - Capability Policy

          - Stand-by and on-call Policy

          - Market Supplement Policy

          - Car User Policy

Resolved

(1)                That the following policies be approved for implementation:

          - Sickness Absence Policy

          - Organisational Change Policy

          - Disciplinary Policy and Procedure

          - Capability Policy

          - Stand-by and on-call Policy

          - Market Supplement Policy

          - Car User Policy

The Committee considered a report from the Chief Executive that sought approval on proposed changes to existing HR policies.

In introducing the report, the Assistant Director of Human Resources explained the changes in the policies were due to changes in the Council’s Constitution. The Assistant Director of Human Resources also stated that there would be a continuation to review policies to bring them in line with the Council’s constitution when required.

In response to Members’ questions, the Assistant Director Human Resources confirmed that the policies were compliant with national legislation and that any further change would be brought to the Personnel Committee for update and review.

Resolved

(1)                That the following policies be approved for implementation:

          - Sickness Absence Policy

          - Organisational Change Policy

          - Disciplinary Policy and Procedure

          - Capability Policy

          - Stand-by and on-call Policy

          - Market Supplement Policy

          - Car User Policy

Report of Chief Executive

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

Officers recommend the committee:

1.1     to review and note the workforce data for Quarter 4 of 2022/23 as set out in Appendix 1.

Resolved

(1)                That the workforce data for Quarter 4 of 2022/23 be noted.

The Committee considered a report from the Chief Executive that provided the Personnel Committee with an update on Cherwell District Council’s workforce including measuring staff well-being and to highlight the actions officers were taking to address any issues.

In introducing the report, The Assistant Director of Human Resources provided an overview on the workforce data for Quarter 4 of 2022/23.

In response to members questions in regard to the decrease in headcount across the council from quarter 1, the Assistant Director of Human Resources confirmed that this was due to the decoupling from OCC.

Regarding agency staff, the Assistant Director of Human Resources explained that there were circumstances where the Council would need to use agency staff where it could not be avoided. For example, in Waste Services, where three manned crews were required to collect the waste in the district, agency staff would be used to help the service.

In response to queries from the Committee regarding actions to increase diversity of the workforce, the Assistant Director of Human Resources explained that a new recruitment module was being introduced from July 2023. The module would provide information regarding the reach of recruitment advertising, which would allow the HR team to review effectiveness.

In response to members questions regarding Local Government Association and District Council’s Network graduate trainee schemes and if the council invested in them, the Assistant Director of Human Resources confirmed that the council had taken on two LGA graduates and would continue to monitor going forward.

Resolved

(1)                That the workforce data for Quarter 4 of 2022/23 be noted.

In autumn 2022, a joint Equalities Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Working Group was established comprising members of the Personnel Committee and the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

The Working Group is informal and support by officers from the Performance and Insight Team. Its role is to help shape and oversee the work the Council is doing to deliver on its equality, diversity and inclusion commitments which are set out in the Council’s Equalities Framework ‘Including Everyone’. The Working Group reviewed the three Action Plans, Inclusive Communities, Inclusive Services and Inclusive Workforce, and provided feedback to Executive (via the Personnel and Overview and Scrutiny Committees) when it considered and adopted the Plans in April 2023.

Once appointed, the Working Group will review its Terms of Reference to focus on monitoring progress against the Action Plans.    

The Personnel Committee is requested to nominate three Personnel Committee members to join the EDI Working Group. The Overview and Scrutiny Committee (OSC) will nominate three OSC members to the EDI Working Group at its 27 June meeting. 

Resolved

(1)                That Councillor Coton, Councillor Okeke and Councillor Pruden be nominated by the Personnel Committee to join the EDI Working Group.

The Committee were asked to nominate representatives to the Equalities, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) working group, which was proposed to continue as a joint working group with Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Resolved

(1)            That Councillor Coton, Councillor Okeke and Councillor Pruden be nominated to represent the Personnel Committee at the Equalities Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Working Group.

The Committee to note the work programme for 2023/2024.

Resolved

(1)                That the work programme 2023/2024 be noted.

The Committee considered the indicative work programme for 2023/2024

Resolved

(1)                That the work programme 2023/2024 be noted.