Agenda and minutes

To appoint a Vice-Chair for the duration of the 2024/25 municipal year. 

The Chair requested nominations for the position of Vice-Chair. 

It was moved and seconded: -

“That Councillor Jason Wood be appointed Vice-Chair of the People and Organisational Development Committee for the municipal year 2024/25.” 

There being no further nominations, the proposition was declared carried. 

Resolved: -

That Councillor Jason Wood be appointed Vice-Chair of the People and Organisational Development Committee for the municipal year 2024/25. 

To receive declarations by Councillors of interests in respect of items on this Agenda.

Councillors are reminded that, in accordance with the Localism Act 2011, they are required to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests which have not already been declared in the Council’s Register of Interests. (It is a criminal offence not to declare a disclosable pecuniary interest either in the Register or at the meeting).  

Whilst not a legal requirement, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 9 and in the interests of clarity and transparency, Councillors should declare any disclosable pecuniary interests which they have already declared in the Register, at this point in the meeting.  

In accordance with Part B Section 2 of the Code Of Conduct, Councillors are required to declare the existence and nature of any other interests as defined in paragraphs 8(1) or 9(2) of the Code of Conduct. 

Councillor Jason Wood declared his interest as an employee and member of UNISON and as a member of Unite the union, these interests being publicly declared. He also declared that his wife is a member of UNISON, Unite the union and GMB.  

Councillor Matthew Black declared his interest as a Regional Representative of the Fire Brigades Union.

Councillor Paul Hart declared his interest as a Member of Morecambe Town Council. 

To receive as a correct record the Minutes of meeting held on 5^th March 2024 (previously circulated). 

The minutes of the meeting held on 5^th March 2024 were approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record. 

There were no items of urgent business. 

Report of the Talent & Organisational Development Officer. 

The Talent and Organisational Development Officer submitted a report that provided an update on the Annual HR Dashboard Figures.  The report informed that the purpose of the dashboard was to accomplish three primary aims. 

Members were informed that annual staffing reports had started again from last year after a period of no reporting. The recent restructure presented a chance to begin afresh in providing staff reporting and insights in line with structural changes.  The annual staffing report covered the financial year 2023/2024.  Members were provided with Dashboard insights for 2023/2024. 

In conclusion it was reported that the main themes from the report to consider over the next year are the rise in Musculo-Skeletal problems and how this can be addressed in order to reduce sickness absence. Lack of development opportunities, like last year, are appearing to be a primary reason why people are leaving the organisation, which intends to be addressed through work on the People Plan over the coming year. 

A number of points were raised at the meeting including consideration, at a future meeting, of the addition of a Wellbeing Day and also inclusion of transitioning within the Sickness Policy as part of the HR Policy Review process.  Also, in future Dashboard reports, more information to be provided on agency spends to provide more information on the spend and whether this was backfilling or the need to buy-in expertise and more information and reasons for Housing and Property sickness absences.  It was noted that this information would be included in future reporting to the Committee. 

It was moved by Councillor Professor Chris Harris, seconded by Councillor Jason Wood and unanimously agreed as follows. 

Resolved:-

(1)     To continue running annual and quarterly staffing reports in addition to utilising live dashboards to pick up on trends and provide an evidence base to inform leadership and HR/OD in making decisions and designing interventions at a team, service and organisational level whilst measuring progress over time. 

(2)     To use previous years’ data as a baseline for future years and benchmark against other LA’s. 

(3)        To consult with stakeholders on additional people metrics to be incorporated into future dashboards and add further value. 

Report of the Chief Officer People and Policy.  (report and appendices published on 12^th July 2024). 

The Senior Corporate Health and Safety Manager submitted a report that enabled the Committee to consider and approve a range of amendments and additions to existing policies and procedures.  These were:

·            SG02 Risk Assessment Policy

·            SG13 Work Equipment Policy

·            SG07 Accident, Incident and Dangerous Occurrence Reporting Policy

Comments and amendments following the meeting of JCC on 10^th July 2024 were set out in the report. 

The Chair expressed his thanks to Officers for the work undertaken to date. 

It was proposed by Councillor Professor Chris Harris, seconded by Councillor Jason Wood, and unanimously resolved as follows. 

Resolved: -

That Health and Safety SG02 Risk Assessment Policy, SG13 Work Equipment Policy and SG07 Accident, Incident and Dangerous Occurrence Reporting Policy, appended to the report, including the amendments recommended by JCC at its meeting held on 10^th July 2024, be approved. 

Report of the Chief Officer People and Policy.  (report and appendices published on 16^th July 2024). 

The HR Policy and Strategy Lead submitted a report that enabled the Committee to consider and approve the introduction of revised recruitment and selection, domestic abuse, maternity, partner, adoption, and shared parental leave policies and the introduction of a special leave (consolidating the emergency dependant leave, bereavement leave, compassionate leave, unpaid leave and carers leave policies) and parental leave policies. 

Comments and amendments following the meeting of JCC on 10^th July 2024 were set out in the report. 

The policy tracker, appended to the report, advised of further information on the changes to be reviewed.  For these policies these were: 

HR Policy Amendments Tracker

The Committee is recommended to pass the following recommendation in relation to the following items:- 

“That, in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act, 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business, on the grounds that they could involve the possible disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 of Schedule 12A of that Act.” 

Members are reminded that, whilst the following items have been marked as exempt, it is for the Committee itself to decide whether or not to consider these in private or in public.  In making the decision, Members should consider the relevant paragraph of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, and also whether the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.  In considering their discretion Members should also be mindful of the advice of Council Officers. 

It was moved by Councillor Jason Wood, seconded by Councillor Paul Newton and resolved as follows. 

Resolved: -

That, in accordance with Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they could involve the possible disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 of Schedule 12A of that Act. 

Report of Chief Officer – Environment & Place. 

The Chief Officer – Environment and Place submitted a report that enabled the Committee to consider a proposed redundancy request. 

Resolved: -

The resolution is set out in a minute exempt from publication by virtue of paragraph 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972. 

Report of the Chief Officer – People and Policy. 

The Chief Officer – People and Policy submitted a report that enabled the Committee to consider a proposed redundancy request. 

Resolved: -

The resolution is set out in a minute exempt from publication by virtue of paragraph 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.