Simon Kilbey (Service Head, Human Resources & Workforce Development) presented the report on a new Workforce Strategy which covers a five year period from 2016/17 to 2021/22. The Strategic plan sets out the priority outcomes from 2016 - 2019 and links into the corporate policy procedures and the organisational change Best Value Improvement Plan.

The activities of the Workforce Strategy for the next 5 years include:

·         Some of our services will be ‘Integrated’.

·         We will operate from a new Civic Centre in Whitechapel with a local presence at John Onslow House. These will be supported by small offices in the community.

·         We will have a ‘mixed market’ of service provision.

·         We will continue to reduce the total workforce expenditure.

·         More of our back office services will be consolidated into single teams.

·         We will have a flatter management structure.

·         We will undertake open recruitment for the majority of our positions.

·         Our workforce will have the skills to deliver public sector services in the future.

·         Apprenticeship placements will form part of our service structures.

·         Improvements in digital technology will change the way we engage with our customers.

The vision of the Workforce Strategy is:

·         Great people

·         Great performance

·         Great place

·         Great partnerships

The Chair welcomed the report and noted that the Corporate Management Team (CMT) has agreed the new Workforce Strategy. At the invitation of the Chair, the Members enquired about the following:

·         How the Workforce Strategy timetable fits in with the financial plans for 2017 and the planned move to the Civic Centre.

·         How do we ensure that the Workforce Strategy is reflective of the community.

·         Are we preparing the workforce to be more technically-minded.

·         How was the information for the Workforce Strategy compiled.

·         Were there any difficulties in accessing the workforce.

In response to the questions from Members, Simon Kilbey agreed that details of the re-organisation plan needs to be clearer and more information included in the Workforce Strategy. The Workforce Strategy does not capture every single action but should include information on staff costs and financial savings. Separate information will be provided to the Committee on the saving plans for each year and on the terms and conditions review. The Service plan for Human Resources will include each service and capture more actions including the move to the Civic Centre, customer management, the workforce and customer access.

Simon Kilbey agreed that information on how the Workforce Strategy was compiled and access to the workforce is missing from this report. He confirmed that there had been a consultation process but no focus groups. He also stated that the Authority had taken steps year on year to make improvements to the workforce and make sure it is more reflective of the community. He also informed the Committee that Louise Russell’s team had conducted a lot of research in this area.

Councillor Shafiqul Haque stated that the Authority need to move away from being insular and be more outward looking. He stressed the need to reach out more and in particular engage  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3

The Committee received and noted this report with outlined the recommendations for improving disabled and ethnic minority staff representation at the senior manager (LP07+) level.  It was noted that representation of disabled and ethnic minority staff at LP07+ are both Strategic Plan measures and measures in the council’s Single Equality Framework. They are key measures to combat inequality in the workforce and to promote equality of opportunity.  The challenge session aimed to improve performance against these strategic measures and improve overall disabled and ethnic minority representation within the workforce. Should the reports or its recommendations lead to service or policy change a full equality analysis will be undertaken.  As a result of discussions on this report the Committee: