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Division(s): N/A

ITEM CG11(a)

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE SCRUTINY COMMITTEE - 27 JULY 2006

(deferred from 1 June 2006)

ESTABLISHMENT MONITORING

Report by Head of Human Resources

Introduction

  1. The report to Cabinet 21 March was the most recent detailed update on activity since the implementation of the new Establishment Review and associated Recruitment process on 1 August 2005.That report gave details of the staffing numbers at 31 December 2005 and made reference to the objectives and targets of the Review and progress made against them.
  2. The report to Cabinet 21 June is currently being compiled. This will provide full details of the staffing numbers at 31 March 2006. This paper provides an update to Committee members on progress since the 21 March report to Cabinet and gives a snapshot of the overall staffing numbers (FTE) at 31 March 2006.
  3. Current Numbers

  4. At 31 December 2005 we had 4663 FTE in post. At 31 March 2006 this has reduced to 4656 FTE. The work currently under way in the directorates, as detailed below, will validate these numbers and provide the full required detail for the Cabinet report on 21June 2006. In terms of overall directorate totals, taken from payroll run at the end of March 2006, these are as shown below. This has been produced to provide an early snapshot of progress – the detail behind the changes in the various services is currently being pulled together.

    Directorate
    FTE 31/12/05
    FTE 31/03/06
         
    Chief Executive’s
    72
    72
    Community Safety
    403
    400
    Environment & Economy
    436
    440
    Learning & Culture
    1476
    1479
    Resources
    401
    389
    Social & Health Care
    1875
    1876
     
    Totals
    4663
    4656

    Note: Pending finalisation of staff transfer details following the directorates realignment the staff numbers remain allocated to their pre-1 January directorates

    Current Activity

  5. The HR teams in the directorates are working with their respective Heads of Service to compile the following reports which will be available for each service area for the next Cabinet update. This will provide real focus on the staffing position at 31 March 2006:-

    • Establishment Figure (FTE) at 31 December 2005
    • Authorised vacancies included in that number
    • FTE employed at 31 December 2005
    • Reason for movement over last quarter – details of new posts, resignations, temporary appointments
    • Vacancies at 31 March 2006 (FTE)
    • Number of posts removed from the establishment in this quarter
    • Number of posts added to the establishment in this quarter
    • Grant Funded posts (FTE)
    • Vacancies included in these numbers covered by agency staff – in terms of FTE and cost.

Key Trends

  1. The Committee has asked that key trends be highlighted. Progress is undoubtedly being made around process and ownership, as evidenced by the following:-

    • Staff numbers have stabilised through the period of the establishment review, with the 31 March 2006 figures showing the first fall in FTE when compared to the previous quarter.
    • Clear "business as usual" processes in place for recruitment approvals with consistent two working day turnaround
    • Reduced list of exempt posts being put in place from 1 April 2006 with the result that more service managers are now very aware of (and are using) the process
    • Recruitment approval requests are now much more complete, with associated job descriptions, organisation charts and justifications for filling the post.
    • Directorate HR teams are pulling together the required Head of Service level information in line with agreed Cabinet deadlines.
    • All redeployment activity across the Council is being pulled together in the Corporate HR team. Re-badged as the Job Finder Service, we now have, for the first time, redeployment activity and recruitment approval process in one place. This enables much tighter control of the process.

STEVE MUNN
Head of Human Resources

Background Papers: Nil

Contact Officer: Steve Munn, Head of Human Resources (01865 815191)

19 May 2006

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