Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Resources and Deputy Leader

Forward Plan Ref: 2025/035

Contact: Nathan Phillips, Data and Insight Team Manager

Nathan.phillips@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Report by Director of HR & Cultural Change (CA10)

Quarterly staffing report providing details of key people numbers and analysis of main changes since the previous report.

Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to note the report.

Recommendations approved.

Cabinet had before it a report which provided an overview of the progress towards delivering the Our People and Culture Strategy (as measured by the achievement of its key performance indicators).  The report summarised the main employee-related trends for Q3 2025/26 and reviewed trends over the last four quarters.

Councillor Neil Fawcett, Cabinet Member for Resources and Deputy Leader, presented the report. Councillor Fawcett referred, in particular, to improvements in recruitment processes. There had been a slight increase in agency spend because of ongoing challenges in recruiting to hard-to-fill roles including legal staff and educational psychologists.

The Council continued to maintain a high percentage of apprenticeship levy spending, particularly in adult and children's social care. Stress and mental health remain the leading causes of staff sickness, reflecting a national trend, and the Council was continuing efforts to support staff well-being.

During discussion, Cabinet members noted the need for deeper analysis of agency staff data by department and anticipated challenges in recruitment as local government reorganisation approached.

Councillor Fawcett moved and Councillor Higgins seconded the recommendation.

RESOLVED to note the report.