Agenda and draft minutes

Please note that this meeting may be filmed or recorded by the Council for

live or subsequent broadcast via the Council’s internet site or by anyone

attending the meeting using any communication method. Although we ask

members of the public recording, filming or reporting on the meeting not to

include the public seating areas, members of the public attending the meeting

should be aware that we cannot guarantee that they will not be filmed or

recorded by others attending the meeting. Members of the public participating

in the meeting (e.g. making deputations, asking questions, making oral

protests) should be aware that they are likely to be filmed, recorded or

reported on. By entering the meeting room and using the public seating area,

you are consenting to being filmed and to the possible use of those images

and sound recordings.

The chair of the meeting has the discretion to terminate or suspend filming or

recording, if in his or her opinion continuation of the filming, recording or

reporting would disrupt or prejudice the proceedings, infringe the rights of any

individual or may lead to the breach of a legal obligation by the Council.

The Chair referred to the filming at meetings notice, and attendees noted this information.

RESOLVED:

That the filming procedure was noted.

To receive any apologies for absence and substitutions.

Apologies were received from Councillor Gunes, but attended online.

The Chair will consider the admission of any late items of Urgent Business.

(Late items of Urgent Business will be considered under the agenda item

where they appear. New items of Urgent Business will be dealt with under

agenda item 9 below.

There was none.

A member with a disclosable pecuniary interest or a prejudicial interest in a

matter who attends a meeting of the authority at which the matter is

considered:

(i) must disclose the interest at the start of the meeting or when the interest

becomes apparent, and

(ii) may not participate in any discussion or vote on the matter and must

withdraw from the meeting room.

A member who discloses at a meeting a disclosable pecuniary interest which

is not registered in the Register of Members’ Interests or the subject of a

pending notification must notify the Monitoring Officer of the interest within 28

days of the disclosure.

Disclosable pecuniary interests, personal interests and prejudicial interests

are defined at Paragraphs 5-7 and Appendix A of the Members’ Code of

Conduct

There were none.

To consider any requests received in accordance with Part 4, Section B,

paragraph 29 of the Council’s constitution.

There were none.

To agree the minutes of the previous meeting held on 22 January 2026 as a correct record.

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 22 January 2026 were discussed.

RESOLVED:

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 22 January 2026 were agreed as a true and accurate record.

Report of the Chief People Officer.

The Chief People Officer introduced the report

It was explained that the report would give Officers and Members relevant workforce data in an easy to understand format to support informed strategic decision making.

It was highlighted that there was a difficulty in comparing data from December 2025, due to the anomalous data that arose during the Christmas period. It was noted that data following this period was seen to be relatively stable, while noting that the permanent workforce was steadily increasing.

It was noted that the number of new starters in the organisation had dropped, due to it being artificially high following bringing some services, such as leisure, in house.

It was noted that apprentices were generally current employees looking to gain additional qualifications.

Following questions from the Committee, the following information was shared:

• It was asked that future employment data showcase information between meetings of the General Purposes Committee, to more accurately demonstrate staffing data.
  
  
• It was explained that agency percentage pay had been increased due to the pay award which would have taken place, which increased the overall spend.
  
  
• It was explained that there had been significant progress on the reduction of agency staffing, and that this would be continued. It was explained that there were some cases where agency staff were useful, in terms of flexibility or specific technical skills, however, despite the Council’s aim to generally reduce agency staff.
  
  
• It was noted that there were 58 senior consultants recruited via agency. It was noted that these were recruited via agency for specific reasons, and stressed that the Council aimed to fill these posts with permanent staff wherever feasible.

RESOLVED:

That the General Purposes Committee:

1.    Noted the report.

Report of the Chief People Officer.

The Head of Employee Relations, Business Partners and Reward introduced the report.

It was explained that the policies were brought to the committee on a cyclical three-year basis; in order to review HR policies to ensure they were fit for purpose and more user friendly.

It was explained that some of the policies brought to the Committee were rewritten to meet with changes within the Employment Rights Act (2026).

It was noted that the Council worked with partners and Unions to ensure that the policies were fair and aligned with best practice.

The proposed policies and their impact on staff and managers were outlined.

Following questions from the Committee, the following information was shared:

• It was explained that the current probation process did put the Council at some risk following the Employment Rights Act, and therefore, it was required that the policy be updated to mitigate this.
  
  
• It was stressed that the Unions had been part of discussions in the drafting of proposed policies. It was noted that there may be occasion where there would be disagreement, but that these instances would be clearly highlighted in any report.

RESOLVED:

That the General Purposes Committee:

1.    Approved the changes to the Annual Leave and Time Off Policy, Probation Policy, Recruitment Policy and Sabbatical Policy.

To note any urgent business (if any).

It was asked that the General Purposes Committee develop a Work Programme of future reports for the Committee.

The next meeting is currently scheduled for 5 March 2026.

The date of the next meeting was noted.