Issue - meetings

Consideration was given to the report of the Managing Director and Head of Organisational Development which was presented to provide Members of specific scrutiny committees the opportunity to scrutinise and challenge relevant Portfolio sickness absence performance and the proposed actions for improvement.

The Head of Organisational Development spoke to the report and highlighted the main points contained therein.

In response to a Member’s question regarding Business Support, the Head of Organisational Development said that Business Support was identified as a ‘hotspot’ with 643 days of sickness.  A full managerial audit of sickness absence had been carried out and Managers were following the Attendance Policy to the letter.  Staff cover was provided for long term sickness absence, over one month, via staff ‘acting up’ or by agency workers.   The Officer continued that the main cause of sickness absence within the Business Support Service was stress related.  Policies were in place to support staff along with the Occupational Health Service.

A Member commented that 94% of staff attend work regularly and were doing a good job.  The Head of Organisational Development said that Corporate Services were under target for both Quarters 1 and 2.

Concerns were raised that staff may be suffering from stress due to capacity issues.  The Head of Organisational Development responded that risk assessments were carried out in relation to any changes to services and a Risk Register was in place so that any issues could be identified and escalated if necessary.

A Member enquired regarding the numbers of staff reporting sick in Corporate Services. The Head of Organisational Development said that out of an approximate 200 members of staff in this area 82 had reported sick for Quarters 1 and 2 of this year.  Improving attendance remained a key priority for the Council and all employees and leaders had a role to play in helping to reduce sickness absence levels.

The Committee AGREED to recommend that the report be accepted and endorse Option 2; namely that the Scrutiny Committee endorse the report and proposed arrangements to support the improvement in attendance.

As this was the last Corporate Overview Scrutiny Committee meeting in the 2019/20 Committee cycle the Chair thanked Members for their contributions and support over the last year.