Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Deputy Leader

Forward Plan Ref: 2009/134

Contact: Sue Corrigan, Strategic HR Manager (01865 810280)

Report by: Head of Human Resources

This report gives an update on activity since the implementation of the Establishment Review and associated Recruitment Approval process on 1 August 2005. It provides detail on the overall objectives of the review and summarises progress made against the targets which were agreed to ensure delivery of those objectives. Details of the agreed establishment figure at 30 June 2009 in terms of Full Time Equivalents is provided, together with the detailed staffing position at 30 June 2009. These are shown in the report by directorate and service area.

The report also provides information on current activity and in addition there is information on grant funded posts and those vacancies which are being covered by agency staff and at what cost.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:

(a) note the report;

(b) confirm that the Establishment Review continues to meet the Cabinet’s requirements in reporting and managing staffing numbers.

Cabinet considered a report giving an update on activity since the implementation of the Establishment Review and associated Recruitment Approval process on 1 August 2005. It provided detail on the overall objectives of the review and summarised progress made against the targets which were agreed to ensure delivery of those objectives. Details of the agreed establishment figure at 30 September 2009 in terms of Full Time Equivalents was provided, together with the detailed staffing position at 30 June 2009. These were shown in the report by directorate and service area.

The report also provided information on current activity and in addition there was information on grant funded posts and those vacancies which are being covered by agency staff and at what cost.

Councillor Fooks, Opposition Deputy Leader, commented on the figures and in particular expressed interest in being given information on the numbers of people who had not been successfully redeployed. She noted that the figures had gone up and queried whether the review was meeting the requirements.

The Deputy Leader responded to the comments made and undertook to provide the information requested on people not redeployed. He noted that the figures were not up to date and that the December figures did show a drop. He thanked officers as he was aware of the great deal of effort that went in to the reports and indicated that the next one would be available a month earlier.

During discussion of agency staff cabinet members stressed that their use was sometimes essential.