Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 17 September 2025.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 17 September 2025 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To receive communications from the Chair.

There were no Chair’s announcements.

The Chair to report on any requests to address the meeting.

There were no requests to address the meeting.

There were no items of Urgent Business.

Report of the Assistant Director Human Resources.

Purpose of report

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

Recommendations

The Personnel Committee resolves:

1.1 To review and approve the following policies for implementation:

a.    Grievance Policy

b.    Sickness Absence Policy and Procedure

c.    Maternity Leave Policy

d.    Adoption Leave Policy

e.    Parental Leave Policy

f.     Shared Parental Leave Policy

g.    Time off for Dependants

h.    Domestic Abuse Policy

Resolved

(1)  That having given due consideration the following policies be approved for implementation;

a)    Grievance Policy

b)    Sickness Absence Policy and Procedure

c)    Maternity Leave Policy

d)    Adoption Leave Policy

e)    Parental Leave Policy

f)     Shared Parental Leave Policy

g)    Time off for Dependants

h)    Domestic Abuse Policy

The Assistant Director Human Resources submitted a report to seek approval from the Personnel Committee on proposed changes to eight HR policies: Grievance Policy; Sickness Absence Policy and Procedure; Maternity Leave Policy; Adoption Leave Policy; Parental Leave Policy; Shared Parental Leave Policy; Time off for Dependants; and Domestic Abuse Policy.

In introducing the report, the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Services, explained that the Policies were part of a rolling programme of updates that aimed to review policies on a 3-year cycle to ensure that they remained compliant and reflected current practices.

Members were advised that the following updates had been made The Grievance Policy now included protection for third party harassment providing clear protection and a strong framework for protection; the Sickness Absence Policy had been updated to include support for Neurodivergent staff, enabling  an inclusive and supportive environment through reasonable adjustments; the Maternity, Adoption and Parental Leave Policies were updated to reflect changes to the EV Salary Sacrifice Scheme; The Domestic Abuse Policy had been updated following details and feedback from the Councils Lived Experiences Group.

No significant changes had been made to the Shared Parental Leave Policy and the Time off for Dependants Policy. 

Resolved

(1)  That, having given due consideration, the following policies be approved for implementation: Grievance Policy; Sickness Absence Policy and Procedure; Maternity Leave Policy; Adoption Leave Policy; Parental Leave Policy; Shared Parental Leave Policy; Time off for Dependants; and Domestic Abuse Policy.

Report of the 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 2 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 2 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 2 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 upward trend of staff sickness within quarter 2 and whether measures were in place to address this increase, the Assistant Director Human Resources explained that a similar trend was reflected within the same quarter of the previous year. Measures were in place to assess members of staff that may need ongoing support to ensure that they were able to return to work as soon as practicable.

In response to a question regarding Covid-19 related staff sickness and whether staff were still reporting that as a reason for absence, the Assistant Director Human Resources explained that as testing for Covid-19 was no longer mandatory, it was hard to pinpoint individual cases, and that due to similar symptoms instances may be reported as cold and flu.

In response to a question regarding changes to Government Levy funding for apprenticeships and the impact on apprenticeship opportunities for staff, the Assistant Director Human Resources explained that officers had been aware of the proposed changes to apprenticeship funding and had been monitoring the budgets to ensure that sufficient funding was available.

Resolved        

(1)  That the workforce profile statistics for quarter 2 of 2025/26 (financial year dates) be noted.