Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Corporate Director (Corporate and Support Services) and Deputy Chief Executive.

The report provides insights about the Council’s workforce over the 18 month period for the full year 2021/22 and the first half of 2022/23. The report presents a more holistic perspective of our workforce than previous reports which focussed primarily upon sickness absence and associated issues.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to comment on and note the report.

Officer contacts: Kathryn.Rees@stockport.gov.uk  or Graham Charsley on Graham.Charsley@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director (Corporate and Support Services) and Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which provided insights about the council’s workforce over the last 18 month period.

Interim Head of HR and OD, Graham Charsley, attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:

·         The report provided a holistic perspective of the council’s workforce which included but was not limited to, analysis on recruitment and retention, learning and development, performance and development reviews, as well as sickness absence and associated occupational health support.

·         In relation to learning and development, the importance of ‘growing your own’ was stressed. Work was being done around development opportunities for staff in supporting recruitment and retention.

·         Staff surveys were an effective tool in understanding how staff were feeling.

·         Hybrid working provided benefits to individuals and the organisation. It was noted that communication was key in supporting staff mental health and wellbeing in a hybrid model of working.

·         Members were advised that managers were much more robust in recording and tracking sickness absence.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.