Agenda and minutes

You are welcome to use Welsh at the meeting, a minimum notice period of 3 working days is required should you wish to do so.  A simultaneous translation will be provided if requested.

It was noted that no requests had been received for the simultaneous translation service.

To receive.

Apologies for absence were received from:-

Councillor G. Collier

Councillor L. Elias

Councillor G. Paulsen

To consider any declarations of interest and dispensations made.

No declarations of interest and dispensations were raised.

To consider the report of the Head of Organisational Development.

Consideration was given to the report of the Head of Organisational Development.

The Interim Chief Officer Commercial advised that the report sought Council approval of the proposed Agile Working Policy. The Interim Chief Officer reminded Members that the New Council Operating Model & Working Arrangements had been approved by Council on 25^th March, 2021 which introduced a new model of working across the Council. The new working arrangements incorporated modern working practices which would seek to enhance employees’ working experience, maximise performance and productivity and deliver the greatest value to the organisation, as well as realising financial gains. The Agile Working Policy was a key enabler in delivering the future working model and also linked to the Council’s vision for sustainable development which included sustainable economic growth and decarbonisation.

The Interim Chief Officer Commercial further outlined the key points contained in the report and noted the consultation which had taken place with the trade unions. The Interim Chief Officer advised that a union representative attended the Corporate Overview Scrutiny Committee on the 16^th April, 2021 in order clarify the position of the unions. Following discussions at the Scrutiny Committee it was requested that the policy be amended to reflect the formal consultation feedback from the trade unions as follows:-

·     The allowance for Agile Workers to be £15.60 per month and not £12 as originally proposed;

·     all current employees that are designated as home or agile workers to be able to utilise an allowance of up to £200 to cover the cost of a chair and desk that would fit in within the home environment. The allowance would be used with an approved council supplier or recycled furniture; and

·        any future workforce if they are paid scale 6 or below that are designated as home or agile workers be able to utilise an allowance of up to £200 to cover the cost of a chair and desk that would fit within the home environment. The allowance would be used with an approved council supplier or recycled furniture.

It was added that the Scrutiny Committee also suggested that consideration be given to the introduction of a social clause for future recruitment to ensure that the Council retained jobs locally. It was reported that this request had been considered and the legal advice was that such a request posed the risk of potential indirect discrimination. The Interim Chief Officer stated that in line with the Council’s equality and diversity policies the Council’s aim was to have a diverse multi-cultural workforce which would in part be achieved through recruitment practices. The inclusion of a social clause within the recruitment policy could potentially be indirectly discriminatory and therefore it was recommended that the social clause  not to be included.

In terms of the implementation of the Policy, the Interim Chief Officer advised that at present the guidance from Welsh Government was to continue to work from home. However, if the Policy was approved  a ‘go live’ date would be agreed in line with the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.