Agenda and minutes

The minutes of the meeting held on 30 June 2011 were taken as read, confirmed and signed.

The Chief Executive reported that no questions had been received under Standing Order 35.

The Chief Executive reported that no questions had been received under Standing Order 7(3) and 7(5).

There were no urgent items for consideration.

The Chairman invited members who wished to do so to declare any interest in respect of items on the agenda for the meeting.

No declarations were made.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Corporate Resources concerning an update on the overall County Council and departmental performance in respect of sickness absence for the period 1 April to 30 June 2011 (Q1). A copy of the report, marked ‘B’, is filed with these minutes.

Members drew attention to the apparent rise in absence within the Chief Executive’s Department in the latest quarter and to the general increase in absence related to stress and depression. The Committee was assured that officers received regular feedback on absence data and monitored this very carefully.

RESOLVED:

(a)               That the Council’s average sickness absence performance of 6.65 days (including schools) and 7.44 days (excluding schools) per FTE for the period April to June 2011 (Q1) be noted;

(b)               That, in future reports to the Committee, the data be broken down to also show figures for short and long-term absence.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Corporate Resources concerning an update on the successful award of the Managed Services for Temporary Agency Resources (MSTAR) framework and the approval received from the Council’s Corporate Management Team to proceed with procurement from the MSTAR framework for a Managed Service Provider and the provision of agency staff and interim managers with immediate effect. A copy of the report, marked ‘C’, is filed with these minutes.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Corporate Resources concerning an update on the delivery of the Council’s People Strategy. A copy of the report, marked ‘D’, is filed with these minutes.

RESOLVED:

(a)               That the targets achieved thus far, as outlined in the report, be noted;

(b)               That a further progress report be submitted to the Committee in March 2012.

“That under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the following paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act:-

Item                                                                                                        Paragraph No.

Staff Terms and Conditions - Update                                                                     4 and 10”.

Resolved:

That under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act:-

Item                                                                 Exempt under Paragraph Nos.

 Staff Terms and Conditions Update                                  4 and 10

The Director of Corporate Resources will deliver an oral update on this item.

The Committee considered an exempt oral update on the progress made with the review of staff terms and conditions and discussed the next steps in the process.

RESOLVED:

That the update on the progress of the Review of Staff Terms and Conditions be noted.