Issue - meetings

(Report of the Acting Head of H.R.)

To advise the Committee of the key workforce statistics for the last financial year 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2007.

Please note: Appendix A to this item is enclosed with this agenda as a separate colour document

The committee received this report to be advised of key workforce statistics for the financial year 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2007.

Key headlines highlighted by the profile were a £500,000 saving as a result of a reduction of sickness absence, a £600,000 saving as a result of the new agency staff contract and a £250,000 saving as a result of work ongoing in redeployment.  Members noted that the Acting Head of H.R. had recently taken the Chair of a London-wide group using data to drive improvement, and that this principle was assisting ongoing work informed by the profile.

Members requested information concerning the number of grievance cases ongoing against the Council, and Officers agreed to provide this information in future profile reports.

Officers stated that work on long-term sickness absence was largely responsible for driving down the Council’s sick day average, and that work would shortly be ongoing on short-term sickness absence, with a number of ideas being considered.

RESOLVED:

1. That the profile be reported to Members again next year, and that data on grievance cases be included.

2. That HR continue to consider measures to combat staff sickness

3. That the report be noted.