Issue - meetings

Members are asked to comment on the report and note its contents.

Consideration was given to the report by the Director of Finance and Corporate Resources (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) containing the annual monitoring information on the use of interim staff. The Committee was advised that the report covered consultants, hired staff and temporary staff and had been split between capital and revenue.

After a question from Councillor Cawley, it was explained that the increase in cost arose from a change to the way the budget for agency hiring was compiled, particularly in relation to the Operations Team. This ensured the Council could deliver a key service such as refuse collection by a team that had a high staff turnover. The aim was to assess the staff, train them and then transfer them to permanent positions.

Councillor Keane asked how the use of consultants for Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) would be managed. The Committee was advised that the Council would develop and utilise the staff it already had so the knowledge that was gained though the LGR process would be retained by the new workforce. The aim was to upskill some Officers and backfill their posts. It was confirmed that knowledge gained from consultants was used to upskill the workforce. Further information would appear in next year’s report.

After a further question from Councillor Keane, it was confirmed that there would be a hiring freeze which would reduce redundancy costs. There would be discussions around recruitment once more information was received next Summer.

Councillor Davenport-Ray asked for further information about the Strategic Insight Team. The Team had grown and the benefits included assisting with future modelling, understanding data information and the future for how the Council worked. The information was now being provided in a timelier way. This work was no longer being outsourced.

RESOLVED

that the contents of the report be noted.