Minute of meeting of 18 March 2024
Perth and Kinross Council · 18 September 2024
Back to Finance and Resources Committee — 18 September 2024 and its agenda
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PERTH AND KINROSS COUNCIL FINANCE AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE EMPLOYEES JOINT CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE Minute of hybrid meeting of the Employees Joint Consultative Committee held in Room 410, 2 High Street, Perth on Monday 18 March 2024 at 2.00pm. Present: Representing Perth and Kinross Council: Councillors B Leishman, S McCole and J Rebbeck. Present: Representing Trade Unions: S Hope (UNISON) V Leonard (GMB) C Weston (EIS) In Attendance: L Hamilton, P Johnstone, L McGeorge, C Judge, N Taylor, F Thomson, and D Williams (all Strategy, People and Resources); F MacKay (Economy, Place and Learning). Apologies: Councillor C Reid, J Kettles, S Robertson and S Topen-Cooper, S Hope in the Chair. 1. WELCOME AND APOLOGIES S Hope welcomed all present to the meeting and apologies were noted above. 2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST There were no declarations of interest made in terms of the Councillors’ Code of Conduct. 3. MINUTE OF MEETING OF THE EMPLOYEES JOINT CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE OF 19 JUNE 2023 FOR APPROVAL The minute of meeting of the Employees Joint Consultative Committee of 25 September 2023 was submitted and approved as a correct record. 4. MATTERS ARISING There were no matters arising. 5. HEALTH AND SAFETY PERFORMANCE REPORT QUARTER 3 – 2023/24 There was a report submitted (G/24/36) informing and advising the Employees Joint Consultative Committee in monitoring health and safety
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compliance and performance across Perth and Kinross Council and providing an overview of health and safety activities undertaken. Resolved: The contents of Report G/24/36, be noted. 6. FIRE SAFETY QUARTERLY REPORT – QUARTER 3 – 2023/24 There was a report submitted by Regulatory Services Manager (G/24/37), approved by Strategic Lead, Strategic Planning, People and Performance informing the Employees Joint Consultative Committee in monitoring fire safety performance across Perth and Kinross Council and providing an overview of fire safety activities undertaken. In introducing the report, L Hamilton advised that reviews of priorities of fire risk assessments were currently taking place. Councillor McCole advised that the Action Plans were not being kept fully updated, and requested that the importance of this be reinforced. Resolved: The contents of Report G/24/37, be noted. 7. STAFF REPORTING: INCIDENTS OF VIOLENCE AND AGGRESSION AND INCIDENTS OF DISTRESSED/CHALLENGING BEHAVIOUR IN EDUCATION SETTINGS, TERM 2 – 2023/24 There was submitted a report (G/24/38) by the Strategic Lead – Education and Learning, informing Employees Joint Consultative Committee of the Education Service’s performance in managing and reducing incidents of violence and aggression or distressed and challenging behaviour that has impacted staff in the workplace. It provides a summary of the information gathered in Term 2 of academic year 2023/2024 in relation to incidents in schools and other educational settings which result in an emotional or physical impact on a member of staff. It also provides information on the activity of the established Working Group to prevent and reduce the number of incidents. In presenting the report, F MacKay, Education and Learning, advised that there had been a reduction in incidents of violence and aggression in primary schools in Perth and Kinross, adding that this had been a real area of focus. F MacKay also advised that less staff had been involved in repeat incidents, and that a revised framework for intervention had been introduced. F Mackay further advised that a Power BI dashboard had been launched for Quality Improvement Officer’s (QIO’s) to be able to view the appropriate data, and it was hoped that this would be extended to Headteachers, and also advised that the working group had looked at schools with a high number of incidents over Terms One and Two.
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C Weston commented that, in terms of year to year comparison, the number of incidents of violence and aggression was still rising. C Weston added that she felt it was important for posters in schools to emphasise that inappropriate behaviours were not acceptable, adding that she also felt it helpful that the Council provided reassurance to Trade Union members. In response to a question from Councillor Rebbeck regarding the working group, S Hope advised that he felt the work being undertaken was good but emphasized the importance of now getting this into practice. S Hope added that he did feel there was an element of under-reporting of incidents and, having undertaken school visits, felt that some inappropriate behaviour had become normalized. In response to a further query from Councillor McCole regarding under-reporting, F MacKay confirmed that one of the purposes of the working group was to resolve this issue. Resolved: The contents of Report G/24/38, be noted. 8. FLEXIBLE WORKING FRAMEWORK UPDATE There was submitted a report (G/24/39) by the Corporate HR Manager providing an update on activity to introduce the Flexible Working Framework following approval by the Finance and Resources Committee in January 2024. In introducing the report, F Thomson advised that a disability staff network meeting had taken place the previous week, and some practical matters had been raised, such as arrangements and training for Evac-Chairs in Council buildings. In response to a query from C Weston, F Thomson confirmed that this policy would still apply to teaching staff applying for reduced hours. F Thomson advised that more communications would be published in the coming week, including links to guidance on requests for reduced hours. Resolved: The contents of Report G/24/38, be noted. 9. HEALTH AND WELLBEING UPDATE There was a report submitted by Corporate HR Manager (G/24/40) providing (i) an update on Health and Wellbeing data; and (ii) providing an update on current Health and Wellbeing activities. Resolved: The contents of Report G/24/40, be noted.
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10. EMPLOYEE SURVEY UPDATE There was a report submitted by Corporate HR Manager (G/24/41) providing an update on the activity that has been taking place and plans for the issue of the employee survey. C Judge advised that the annual employee survey had been stopped in 2018, with the Council switching to pulse surveys in 2020. C Judge advised that the decision to bring back the annual survey had been taken with the Chief Executive, adding that work was being undertaken with the Senior Leadership Team in this regard. C Judge added that consultation had been taken with the NHS regarding their staff survey. C Judge advised that broad themes were outlined in the report, but advised that more themes would be added in the survey. C Judge advised that results would be published at a team level, and that results and next steps would be outlined at the next meeting of this Committee. S Hope added that he felt the workshops which had taken place were really beneficial, and added the importance of promoting the survey. Resolved: The contents of Report G/24/41, be noted. 11. PERFORMANCE DEVELOPMENT DISCUSSION UPDATE There was a report submitted by Corporate HR Manager (G/24/42) providing an update on implementation of the Performance and Development Discussion (PDD) process and plans for future work. C Judge advised that the framework had been launched in early January 2024, and since then over 100 employees had completed it, with the feedback being positive. C Judge further advised that continued support would be available to managers. Resolved: The contents of Report G/24/42, be noted. 12. PEOPLE AND CULTURE STRATEGY P Johnstone, Corporate HR Manager, delivered a verbal update on the People and Culture Strategy. P Johnstone advised that the new name for the consolidated Human Resources (HR) and Organisational Development (OD) is ‘People and Culture’, and that an operating model was presently being looked at. P Johnstone advised that it was planned for a People and Culture strategy to be submitted to the Finance and Resources Committee on 12 June, and that Trade Unions would be invited to meetings individually.
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P Johnstone further advised that there would be a shift in HR and OD provision across the Council, and that a mapping exercise was taking place in this regard. 13. ANY OTHER COMPETENT BUSINESS The was no other competent business. 14. DATE OF NEXT MEETING 17 June 2024.