Agenda, decisions and minutes

There were no petitions or requests to address the meeting.

There were no items of urgent business.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 31 January 2023.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 31 January 2023 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive communications from the Chairman.

The Chairman advised the Committee that the year-end Workforce Profile Statistics would be submitted to the next meeting and requested that Members provide feedback to the Assistant Director Human Resources regarding information they would like included in the report.  

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       Officers recommend the committee reviews and approves the following policies for implementation:

- Corporate Health, Safety and Wellbeing Policy

- Probation Policy

- Honorarium Policy

Resolved

That the following policies be approved for implementation:

- Corporate Health, Safety and Wellbeing Policy

- Probation Policy

- Honorarium Policy

The Chief Executive submitted a report to seek approval on proposed changes to the following existing HR policies: Corporate Health, Safety and Wellbeing Policy; Probation Policy; and, Honorarium Policy.

The HR Manager gave an overview of the proposed changes to the Probation Policy and Honorarium Policy. The Health and Safety Manager gave an overview of the proposed changes to the Corporate Health, Safety and Wellbeing Policy.

Resolved

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

·         Corporate Health, Safety and Wellbeing Policy

·         Probation Policy

·         Honorarium Policy

Report of Assistant Director – Customer Focus

Purpose of report

To seek the committee’s views on the draft action plans for delivering the council’s equality, diversity and inclusion commitments for creating an inclusive workplace, which are set out in its Equalities Framework, Including Everyone.

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

1.1     To review the draft action plan for an Inclusive Workplace and provide comments for the Executive Committee to consider at its April meeting.

1.2     To recommend to the Executive Committee that there is a delegation of authority to the Assistant Director for Customer Focus to make minor amendments to the agreed Inclusive Workplace Action Plans in consultation with the portfolio holder and Chair of the EDI working group

Resolved

1.1           That the following comment be made to Executive on the draft action plan for an Inclusive Workplace Information on age discrimination should be included within the plan. 

1.2           That Executive be recommended to delegate authority to the Assistant Director for Customer Focus to make minor amendments to the agreed Inclusive Workplace Action Plans in consultation with the portfolio holder and Chair of the EDI working group.

The Assistant Director for Customer Focus submitted a report to seek the Committee’s views on the draft action plans for delivering the council’s equality, diversity and inclusion commitments for creating an inclusive workplace, which are set out in its Equalities Framework, Including Everyone.

In introducing the report, The Assistant Director for Customer Focus, advised the Committee that the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) working group was a joint working group with the Overview and Scrutiny Committee. The working group had reviewed the three draft action plans – Inclusive Communities, Inclusive Services and Inclusive Workforce.

The Personnel Committee was asked to provide comments on the Inclusive Workforce action plan.. The Overview and Scrutiny Committee considered the Inclusive Communities and Inclusive Services action plans at their 15 March meeting. All three action plans would be considered by Executive at their meeting on 3 April.

In considering the report, the Committee noted the excellent work in respect of all Action Plans. In respect of the Inclusive Workforce the Committee commented that there should be more reference in relation to age discrimination.

Resolved

(1)          That the following comment on the draft action plan for an Inclusive Workplace Information be made to Executive:

·         There should be more reference to age discrimination within the plan. 

(2)          That Executive be recommended to delegate authority to the Assistant Director for Customer Focus to make minor amendments to the agreed Inclusive Workplace Action Plans in consultation with the portfolio holder and Chair of the EDI working group.