Agenda and minutes

To receive details of any Members appointed to attend the meeting instead of a Member of the Sub-Committee.

Councillor Denlegh-Maxwell substituted for Councillor Mitchell.

To receive any declarations of interest.

None.

Up to a total of fifteen minutes can be allowed, each speaker being allocated a maximum of five minutes, for members of the public to present a petition, ask a question or comment on any matter on the Agenda or within the remit of the Sub-Committee.

None.

Of the meeting held on 28^th February 2018

to be approved and signed.

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the meeting held on 28^th February 2018 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

That the Committee notes the Council’s Equality Workforce Monitoring Information for 2017/18

The Head of People Services presented his report on Equality Monitoring.

He drew attention to the Gender Pay Gap. Reporting on this is a new requirement this year for all organisations employing over 250 people. The Council is one of only 14% of employers reporting a negative gender pay gap. On average women working for Worcester City Council are paid more that men, this is largely due to us retaining a relatively large and mainly male manual workforce.

It was noted that a negative pay gap was in fact a male gender pay gap.

In terms of disability recruitment there were just two recruits declaring a disability in 2017/18. The Head of People Services acknowledged that some applicants may not disclose a disability but that this was nard to measure.

RESOLVED: That the Sub-Committee note the Council’s Equality Workforce Monitoring Information for 2017/18.

That the Committee note the health and attendance performance for the year 2017/18 and actions being taken to reduce sickness absence.

That the Committee note the voluntary leavers rate for the year 2017/18 and actions being taken to increase staff retention.

The Head of People Services presented his report. The First Care Absence management System launched on 1 April, early indications suggest that this is having a positive impact on attendance. He went on to detail Illness Types, Service Areas affected and Improvement Actions. Finally he detailed information received from Voluntary Leavers.

RESOLVED: That the Sub-Committee:

1.1 Note the health and attendance performance for 2017/18 and actions being taken to reduce sickness absence.

1.2 Note the voluntary leavers rate for the year 2017/18 and actions being taken to increase staff retention.

To approve the proposed amendments to the Employment Contract.

The Head of People Services presented a report which outlined some minor changes have been made to the Employment Contract. These included those who qualified for overtime, the carrying over of annual leave into the following financial year. The new sickness absence reporting arrangements seem to be going well following the introduction of Firstcare, and no problems appear to be causing no problems.

RESOLVED: That the Sub-Committee approve the proposed amendments to the Employment Contract.

The current Commissioning and Delivery Directorate is replaced by a Homes and Communities Directorate, bringing together the current functions of Strategic Housing and Community Services.

Proceed to recruit a new Corporate Director Homes and Communities.

The Commissioning and Transformation team currently sitting within the Commissioning and Delivery Directorate is re-titled Policy and Strategy and transferred to the Finance and Resources Directorate thereby bringing together all (in-house, out-sourced and shared) corporate support functions within the oversight of the Corporate Director Finance & Resources.

The Environmental Operations teams currently sitting within the Commissioning and Delivery Directorate are transferred to the Place Directorate.

The Deputy Director Governance (including the Democratic, Civic and Electoral Services and Legal Teams) is transferred to report to the Managing Director.

The Managing Director presented his report on changes to the structure and management of the Council. He explained that he had taken the opportunity to review current operations in order to determine whether the structure put in place in late 2015 and early 2016 still remains fit for purpose. Certain aspects of our current operations make it more difficult than it needs to be when delivering housing, safeguarding, community services shaping our riverside and managing both direct and out-sourced services across more than one Directorate and a number of teams.

The Managing Director went on to answer Members’ questions.

RESOLVED: That the Sub-Committee:-

1.1 Replace the current Commissioning and Delivery Directorate by a Homes and Communities Directorate, bringing together the current functions of Strategic Housing and Community Services.

1.2 Proceed to recruit a new Corporate Director Homes and Communities.

1.3 The Commissioning and Transformation team currently sitting within the Commissioning and Delivery Directorate is re-titled Policy and Strategy and transferred to the Finance and Resources Directorate thereby bringing together all (in-house, out-sourced and shared) corporate support functions within the oversight of the Corporate Director Finance & Resources.

1.4 The Environmental Operations teams currently sitting within the Commissioning and Delivery Directorate are transferred to the Place Directorate.

1.5 The Deputy Director Governance (including the Democratic, Civic and Electoral Services and Legal Teams) is transferred to report to the Managing Director.

Which in the opinion of the Chairman is of sufficient urgency as to warrant consideration.

None.

Exempt – not for publication because the item contains information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person including the authority holding that information – category 1 and 3.

RESOLVED: That under 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 involve the likely disclosure of information as defined in schedule 12A of the Act.

To consider confidential staffing matters

The Committee considered and approved Confidential Staffing matters.

Exempt not for publication because the item contains information relating to any individual and also relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person – categories 1 and 3.