The Head of HR Shared Services introduced the report, with the updates to the workforce plan shown in Appendix 1 to the report. The current Workforce Strategy covered the period 2016-2020, with the work necessary to produce the next draft plan delayed until 2021 due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

Particular attention was drawn to the three staff surveys that had been undertaken this year. This included the Staff Engagement Survey conducted in February 2020 that achieved a 71% response rate, and two surveys that had aimed to understand the impact of Covid-19 on staff wellbeing. Positive responses had been received from all surveys. An additional survey for managers produced similarly positive results. The results for a further survey, to understand the future working arrangements and needs of staff, were currently being reviewed.

The Committee were informed that as of April 2020, the real living wage had been implemented to provide a significant increase in pay to the lowest paid Council employees. It was confirmed that all staff that had been either absent, in self-isolation whilst working from home, or in self-isolation and unable to work, due to Covid-19 had now returned to work.

The Head of HR Shared Services referenced the recent use of webinars, remote weekly quizzes and breakout sessions, with the resulting feedback detailed in Appendix 2 to the report. Due to the success of a pilot scheme that trialled a new approach to staff performance reviews, the process would be implemented for all staff members by the end of 2020. The training budget for the current financial year had been reduced by 35%, however the central health and safety and safeguarding training would continue to be provided.

The Committee welcomed the report and expressed thanks for the actions undertaken by Human Resources in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, with particular regard to the Webinars that had been introduced. In response to questions, the Head of HR Shared Services confirmed that the Council’s staff turnover, at 7.28%, was significantly below the national average of 13.4% and that Webinars would continue to be used for future training purposes.

RESOLVED: That the update provided be noted.