The report of the Director of Human Resources (Document “CR”) contains background, analysis and recommendations with respect to the scope of and funding for the development of an inclusive People Strategy and the next stage of our Council Workforce Development plan.

The report provides recommendations based on an assessment of internal feedback from staff, existing reports (e.g., Hay, Equalities Objectives etc), current programmes within and outside Human Resources and Organisation Development (e.g. Kickstart) and an external review of latest trends in the Human Resources (HR) and Organisation Development (OD) profession.

The recommendations made will enable the Council as a whole to consolidate the good progress made to date against our current workforce development plan, allow us to prioritise areas where we still need to make improvements (eg performance management) and enable us to implement a strategic people framework that will deliver sustained improvement that ensure our workforce outcomes are directly aligned with the Council plan.

Recommended -

(1)       That with regard to the Council Workforce Development Plan 2021 – 2024, the additional funding needs set out in Document “CR” and the priority needs that must focus on be supported.

(2)       That with regard to the People Strategy 2021 – 2026, the contents of the report be noted and the following be approved in principle:

·               The approach to developing the Council People Strategy and associated implementation roadmap outlined in Section 9 and Appendices 3-5 of the report.

·               Development of the Council Workforce Development Plan for 2021 – 2024.

·               To review and sign off the People Strategy (date to be agreed) following engagement with key stakeholder groups.

·               Commit to proactively and consistently support the development and implementation of the people strategy and ensure that Departmental Management Teams will do the same.

(Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee)

(Karen Grave - 07816 082789 )

The report of the Director of Human Resources (Document “CR”) contained background, analysis and recommendations with respect to the scope of and funding for the development of an inclusive People Strategy and the next stage of our Council Workforce Development plan.

The report provided recommendations based on an assessment of internal feedback from staff, existing reports (e.g., Hay, Equalities Objectives etc), current programmes within and outside Human Resources and Organisation Development (e.g. Kickstart) and an external review of latest trends in the Human Resources (HR) and Organisation Development (OD) profession.

The recommendations made would enable the Council as a whole to consolidate the good progress made to date against it’s current workforce development plan, allow it to prioritise areas where improvements were still needed (eg performance management) and enable it to implement a strategic people framework that would deliver sustained improvement that ensured it’s workforce outcomes were directly aligned with the Council plan.

The Leader emphasised that the Council’s largest asset was it’s 8,200 approx. workforce who should be supported to achieve and progress with a view to developing senior management for the future.  She went on to thank all Council employees for their work during the Covid 19 pandemic.

The Leader of the opposition group welcomed the report and joined in thanking Council employees for their work in difficult circumstances.  She added that it was important to have the right people in the right roles and stressed the need to incentivise staff through promotion.  She noted that many employees had worked in different roles during the pandemic and had thrived and added that this should be built upon with succession  planning  to enhance their skills going forward.

With reference to a member question regarding staffing for the Unicef Child Friendly City the Leader responded that the vast majority would be Council staff as it would essentially be about changing the way the Council operated to be child focussed.  The Children and Families Portfolio Holder stressed that the Unicef Child Friendly City was about all children in the district and not just looked after children.  He added that a lead officer would be recruited to work in the Office of the Chief Executive. 

In responding to a comment from a member regarding the £16.2m paid in agency fees for social workers and support staff the Director of Human Resources acknowledged the high number of agency staff in Children’s Services  the majority of which were experienced social workers.  She added that changes had been made to speed up the recruitment process and that the Council was working with recruitment agencies and partners to bring in social workers from a wider field than previously while also focussing on retention and career pathways.  The Children and Families Portfolio Holder referred the challenges in recruiting level 3 social workers which was a national issue and noted the emphasis on retaining and promoting staff from within the authority.

The Leader referred to the Chancellor’s announced public sector pay freeze and expressed concern that she considered that the Local Government sector was very much undervalued by Central Government. 

Resolved -

(1)       That with regard to the Council Workforce Development Plan 2021 – 2024, the additional funding needs set out in Document “CR” and the priority needs that must focus on be supported.

(2)       That with regard to the People Strategy 2021 – 2026, the contents of the report be noted and the following be approved in principle:

·               The approach to developing the Council People Strategy and associated implementation roadmap outlined in Section 9 and Appendices 3-5 of Document “CR”.

·               Development of the Council Workforce Development Plan for 2021 – 2024.

·               To review and sign off the People Strategy (date to be agreed) following engagement with key stakeholder groups.

·               Commit to proactively and consistently support the development and implementation of the people strategy and ensure that Departmental Management Teams will do the same.

ACTION: Director of Human Resources

Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee