Agenda item - HROD Annual Report

Report of Interim Executive Director Finance & Resources (copy attached).

(1)            That the annual report of activity, assurance and business plan priorities from the Human Resources & Organisational Development (HROD) Service be noted.

17.1    The Committee considered a report of the Interim Executive Director of Finance and Resources which informed Members that the Human Resources & Organisational Development (HROD) service comprised Human Resources, Health & Safety and Workforce & Organisational Development.  This was the second year the service had presented an annual report.  Its purpose was to highlight the continued contribution the service had made in supporting the organisation over the last 12 months and set out the focus of activity this year.  The Human Resources & Organisational Development Annual Report 2014/15 was attached as appendix 1 to the report.  The Corporate Health & Safety Annual Report was attached as Appendix 2.  The report was presented by the Head of Human Resources & Organisational Development and the Head of Health & Safety.   

17.2    The Chair thanked the Head of Human Resources & Organisational Development and the Head of Health & Safety for a very useful report.

17.3    Dr Horne welcomed the reports.  He referred to Appendix 2 of the Corporate Health & Safety Annual Report  - Accident/Incident summary Data on page 191.  He commented that the Total Days Lost had increased alarmingly and asked for further information about who non staff referred to.  Dr Horne asked what monitoring happens at a corporate level.  The Head of Health & Safety explained that Non Staff related to schools and service users, residents, carers and visitors to buildings.  The majority of the total days lost were due to slips, trips and falls between October to December.  HR are working with partners to see if this was a trend.  Incidents would be monitored by the Health & Safety Committee.

17.4    Councillor Cobb also referred to the accident/incident summary data on page 191.  She asked if it was possible to break this information down.  The Head of Health & Safety undertook to circulate the Annual Health & Safety Incidents Report to members.  This contains detailed information.

17.5    Councillor Robins asked for more information about apprenticeship recruitment.  The Head of Human Resources & Organisational Development replied that she would be happy to send detailed information to Councillor Robins.  Apprentices had a wide range of roles in the council and worked in many areas including HR, Finance, Children’s Services, communications and schools. Work placements were also a successful route for those moving on the apprenticeships and provided for a career pathway into work.  Apprentices were showing good results in the conversion to full employment.

17.6    The Chair stated that any information sent to councillors on apprentices would be useful. 

17.7    Councillor Morris referred to page 169 relating to the Occupational Health Service.  He was pleased to see this included mental health.  He asked about the content of the two health & safety newsletters mentioned on page 189.  The Head of Health & Safety replied that officers worked closely to provide timely information.

17.8    Councillor Sykes considered the reports were excellent.  He asked questions relating to Living Our Values, progress and feedback from managers and payroll.  The Head of Human Resources & Organisational Development explained that values were developed through staff engagement. The cultural change programme would continue.  There was a desire to continue the improvement in the management of performance and accountability which was a key aspect of the leadership development programme.

17.9    Councillor Druitt referred to page 172 which referred to the IiP Silver award.  He asked what areas were flagged up as areas to improve and why the service had not been assessed for a Gold Award.  Councillor Druitt referred to page 196 in relation to contractor management.  He noted that the numbers quoted were small.  The Head of Human Resources & Organisational Development explained that action plans had been suggested in relation to the IiP Silver Award.  The service had chosen to be assessed for the Silver Award as it wanted to focus on performance management before being assessed for the IiP Gold Award.  The Head of Health & Safety explained that with regard to contract management, wider health and safety management arrangements were monitored with an in depth audit.  Key contracts were identified for the audit.  

17.10  Diane Bushell referred to page 168 in relation to the statistic for sickness absence and asked for clarification. The Head of Human Resources & Organisational Development explained that it was a recognised statistic.  Generally the public sector had a higher rate of sickness absence.  She was working with managers and occupational health to bring the numbers down.  

17.11  Councillor Taylor referred to page 160 and asked for more information about staff travel expenses.  The report mentioned that the total value of unrecovered salary overpayments amounted to £366,827.  He asked if the figure was coming down.  Councillor Taylor was pleased to hear that action was being taken regarding staff sickness.  The Head of Human Resources & Organisational Development replied that the staff travel expenses related to matters such as mileage claims.  She agreed that the unrecovered salary overpayments was a large figure.  There was evidence of an improvement in recovery. The Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development also highlighted that there had been a significant improvement in payroll assurance for the second year.

17.12  RESOLVED -

(1)            That the annual report of activity, assurance and business plan priorities from the Human Resources & Organisational Development (HROD) Service be noted.