Issue - meetings

The Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development submitted a report setting out the findings following a review of the Council’s recruitment process in June 2015.  The HR Officer provided a summary of the report and how the Council could improve its current recruitment process to attract the right candidates and promote East Herts as a great place to work.

The Committee Chairman thanked the HR Officer for a detailed and very thorough report.

Councillor P Ruffles commented that selling the Council as a place to work needed a different approach adding that it must be a “dream” job in terms of terrain when compared with other Councils.  He referred to hard to fill roles, and the Council’s approach.  The HR Officer explained that some jobs, e.g. in planning and building control were hard to fill because there was a shortage of skills.  Revenues and Benefits was another example.  In the latter situation, the Council adopted a rolling advertising campaign to attract candidates.  The Head of HR and Organisational Development explained that it was about demand and supply.  She explained that at one stage East Herts was at the forefront in relation to working from home, but that many Councils now offered this arrangement. 

In response to a query from Councillor M Stevenson, the Head of HR and Organisational Development explained that, up until recently, staff turnover had been low, but that this had increased in the last six months owing to a number of retirements.  She explained that HR would be reviewing career grades and working jointly with EELGA around planning.  The Head referred to the Council’s Graduate Training Scheme and how this might be further expanded to encourage younger people to join the Council and the introduction of career paths. 

The Committee approved the report.

RESOLVED – that the recommendations in paragraph 2 of the report, as now submitted, be approved; and

(B)   the Action Plan be agreed.