To receive an update from the Corporate Director of People.

The Corporate Director of People gave a brief overview of the workforce update. The Committee were told that data that the 2017/18 data did not include Trafford CCG within it. There had been a reduction in the number of vacancies following the spike that was seen within august. There had been a reduction of 30 percent for agency spend form September to October. There had been a slight increase in the level of absences across the Council.

There had been a number of charities supported by dress down Fridays and cake sales. There had been some mental health support sessions as well as Pilates sessions. The Council had employed 104 apprentices and they were working with other authorities on developing a level four apprenticeship. The council had carried out communication and engagement exercises with schools and colleges across Trafford and there had been a good level of interest shown by young people wanting to take up the level four apprenticeships.

Following the update the Committee were given the opportunity to ask questions. A Member pointed out that there was a high level of absence within the Council and they suggested that this was an area that the Committee should pay close attention to and that it should be on the agenda for future meeting. The Corporate Director responded that this was something g that the Council had been working making inroads into the level of absences. The Committee were informed that the Council had a number of employees that were suffering from long term conditions and the Council were looking at ways to effectively support these employees. It was felt that there were also some employees who knew how to work the system regarding short term sickness and this was going to be reviewed by HR.

The Committee Member recognised that long term sickness was something that every organisation had and that staff in such a position needed support. The Member then requested that the information that the Council gathered through return to works and other documents relating to the issues around short term absences be brought to the Committee for information. The Head of Workforce and Core Strategy added that the Council were also doing work around the wider aspects of attendance management such as Health and Wellbeing and culture change within the organisation.

The Vice Chair asked that data be provided which removed long term sickness so that the position around short term sickness could be properly understood. They added that they looked forward to the annual staff survey as it would give employees an opportunity to feedback in a confidential manner. The Vice Chair asked whether the charity Every Month could be considered to receive funding from fundraising events. The Corporate director responded that the team would look into this.

A Committee Member noted that Trafford was not a living wage accredited employer and so they did not have mechanisms in place in order to make sure that employees’ wages continued to stay above the living wage. The Member asked for clarification as to whether the living wage that was listed in the document referred to the national living wage or the living wage as set by campaigners. The Corporate Director stated that she had not covered pay as part of her overview as it was a separate item on the agenda. In response to the Councillors question the Corporate Director responded that she would seek clarification as to what was meant within the document and pass the answer onto the Committee.

Another Member noted the Council’s excellent performance in terms of apprenticeships both within the Council itself and as a champion of them across the area. The Member also noted the important role that the Unions had played in supporting this work and ensuring that it achieved such success.

RESOLVED:

1)    That the update be noted by the Committee.

2)    That the levels of absence among staff be an agenda item at a later meeting of the Committee.

3)    That the update on staff absence is to include data on short term absence only.

4)    That clarification as to the definition of living wage within the update be provided to the Committee.

5)    That the charity Every Month be considered to receive funding from fundraising events.

6)    That the excellent work of the Council and the Unions with regards to apprenticeships be commended by the Committee.