Issue - meetings

Consideration was given to the report of the Head of Organisational

Development.

The Head of Organisational Development noted the overall year end outturn figure for the Council of 13.91 days per full time equivalent employee -  the figure would reduce to 13.48 days excluding Covid 19 sickness. These figures saw an increase from the previous year’s outturn of 12.66 days and exceeds the target set of 11 days. The Officer advised that over the last three years that Council had sustained absence levels which exceeded 11 days’ sickness absence per full time employee. The Head of Organisational Development further referred Members to the continued actions for managers which detailed a number of actions. Sickness absence performance was reported quarterly to Corporate Leadership Team and included as part of the Finance and Performance report to Members.

The Head of Organisational Development provided the current position in terms of sickness absence and advised that there was a drop in sickness for Quarter 1 with 2.49 days (2.21 excluding Covid) per full time employee which compared to 3.05 days for the same period last year. In terms of Quarter 2 4.83 (4.43 excluding Covid) days were reported compared to 5.96 days for the same period last year.

In conclusion the Head of Organisational Development advised that Directorates had reviewed the top 20 cases of sickness absence for their service area and that new Workforce Strategy would have a continued focus on workforce wellbeing.

The Leader referred to concerns brought forward by Members in terms of sickness absence performance reporting and felt that further discussions were needed at the appropriate time to introduce quarterly reporting to relevant scrutiny committees.  He also said that it would be interesting to understand the impact home working had on reducing sickness absence levels.

Following discussions, it was agreed that more stringent quarterly reports be introduced for all Directorates for consideration by Executive and Scrutiny.

RESOLVED accordingly.

RESOLVED, subject to the foregoing that the report be accepted and Option 1; namely thatMembers having considered the sickness absence performance information and the ongoing actions to support improved attendance within the Council identify any further areas for improvement in order to drive forward performance improvement.