Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the January meeting of the Scrutiny Board (Resources and Council Services)

There were no late items

To disclose or draw attention to any disclosable pecuniary interests for the purposes of Section 31 of the Localism Act 2011 and paragraphs 13-18 of the Members’ Code of Conduct.  Also to declare any other significant interests which the Member wishes to declare in the public interest, in accordance with paragraphs 19 - 20 of the Members’ Code of Conduct.

In accordance with paragraphs 19-20 of the Members Code of Conduct, the following declaration was made by Councillor Ron Grahame in relation to Agenda item 8 as a member of the GMB Union (minute 74 refers).

Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillors S Bentley, JL Carter, A Lowe and R Wood.

To confirm as a correct record, the minutes of the previous meeting held on 17th December 2012

(Copy attached)

RESOLVED -That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 17^th December 2012 be confirmed as a correct record.

To receive for information the minutes of the Executive Board held on 12^th December  2012

(Copy attached)

RESOLVED -That the minutes of the Executive Board held on 12^th December 2012 be noted.

Councillor R Grahame raised matters under minute 130, Green Deal – Leeds City Region Project, to which Councillor Peter Gruen, Executive Member Neighbourhoods, and Support Services undertook to provide a written response.

To consider a report by the Chief Officer HR which sets out the People Plan scorecard information for September 2012.

(Report attached)

The Chief Officer HR presented to the Board the People Score Cards for Quarter 2 2012/13.

The following were in attendance:

Councillor Peter Gruen - Executive Member Neighbourhoods and Support Services

Lorraine Hallam – Chief Officer HR

Daniel Hartley – Deputy Chief Officer HR

  Catherine Marchant – Head of Human Resources – Children’s   Services

In brief summary, the main issues of discussion were;

·  The staffing underspend

·  The reduction in the number of agency staff

·  The absence in a significant number of Score Cards of a 2012/13 target or a 2011/12 outturn and the reasons for this.

·  The existence in many of the Score Cards of the lack of data and the reasons for this.

·  The manner in which data is collected by the SAP system and the management levels at which this data is collected resulting in data not being available

·  The need to achieve a balance between appropriate data collection and the resources required to provide and collect such data

·  The varied quality and usefulness of the comments provided in the Score Cards to explain local circumstances

The information that is provided to this Scrutiny Board

In addition to requesting that HR look at the areas where targets had not been provided for 2012/13 or outturns provided for 2011/12, the Board requested that targets for 2013/14 be drawn up.

The Board also agreed to request that future Score Cards included data on overtime expenditure.

Additional information was requested with regards;

  Leeds Initiative Staff

  The Talent Pool

  Care First

  Accident Numbers

  Number of Social Workers and current absence figures

RESOLVED 

(i)  To note the contents of the report

(ii)  To request the additional information required

(iii)  To authorise the Chair and Head of Scrutiny and Member Development to work with officers in the drawing up of a revised reporting format for this Scrutiny Board in time for its March 2013 meeting.

To consider a report by the Chief Officer (HR) which sets out the current  position regarding Health Safety and Wellbeing with particular reference to Workforce Wellbeing and Attendance Management.

(Report attached)

The Chief Officer HR presented to the Board a report detailing the current position regarding Health Safety and Wellbeing with particular reference to attendance Management

The following were in attendance

Councillor Peter Gruen - Executive Member Neighbourhoods and Support

Services

Lorraine Hallam – Chief Officer HR

Daniel Hartley – Deputy Chief Officer HR

Catherine Marchant – Head of Human Resources – Children’s Services

Emma Wyatt - Senior HR Business Partner

Susan Barber - HR Manager, Attendance Management Team

Opening up this item Councillor Macniven gave a brief resume of an event

she and others had attended called ‘Time to Change’ where participants

 gained a greater understanding of the reality, impact and barriers

 experienced by  people suffering mental ill-health. Participants were also

given an update on  the Mindful employer campaign to which Leeds City

Council has signed up.

It was noted that another event would take place in March 2013

In brief summary, the main issues of discussion were;

·  The three key priorities for action; progressing Mindful Employer, tobacco addiction and raising awareness of living a healthy lifestyle

·  Attendance Management and current procedures

·  The importance of sharing best practice within and between Directorates

·  The correlation between attendance, appraisals and general staff engagement

·  The fact that the reduction in absenteeism was not as a result of reduced numbers of staff

·  The need to ensure local managers see attendance management as a management job not an HR one

The Chair congratulated HR on the progress made in this area and would consider how best to relay this to Directorates

RESOLVED - To endorse the approach to health and wellbeing as describe in the submitted report

To consider a report by the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development which sets out the Board’s draft work schedule for the 2012-13 Municipal year.

(Report attached)

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a copy of the Board’s work schedule. 

RESOLVED – To note the Board’s work schedule.

To note that the next meeting will take place on Monday 18^th February 2013 commencing at 10.00am in the Civic Hall, Leeds

RESOLVED – To note the date of the next meeting as Monday 18^th February 2013 at 10am

(All meetings to take place in the Civic Hall, Leeds, commencing at 10.00am)

(The meeting concluded at 12 noon)