Issue - meetings

The Head of Human Resources (HR) and Organisational Development submitted a report updating the Council’s data held in relation to equalities and diversity.  The HR Officer provided a summary of the report referring Members to the recommendations in paragraph 2.2 of the report.

The Committee Chairman queried the disproportionate percentage of Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) applicants who had been unsuccessful at the appointment stage and asked that this be investigated further.  This was supported. 

The Committee supported a suggestion by Councillor P Ruffles that Members be provided with feedback on all of the recommendations listed as bullet points with the report as now submitted.

The Head of HR and Organisational Development assured Members that HR constantly looked for emerging patterns so that potential problems could be addressed to provide a joined up and corporate approach to HR issues.  Councillor J Goodeve suggested that a lack of interest in local government might be as a result of the costs of local housing.  The Head of HR and Organisational Development explained that statistics showed that many people in the District commuted to London and could earn more money.  She referred to the high percentage of part-time female staff who tried to juggle family and a work life balance. 

The Committee Chairman referred to the use of apprenticeships and encouraging the Council’s contractors to make use of this workforce.  The Head of HR and Organisational Development suggested that it was about making the Council more attractive and improving promotion on how the Council did things.

Councillor I Devonshire suggested that more work be done on encouraging graduates within planning and building control.  The Head of HR and Organisational Development explained that the planning service used to have a lot of career graded roles and that HR needed to speak with the Head of Planning and Building Control about this.

RESOLVED – that  (A) the Equality and Diversity Annual report 2014/15 be noted; and

(B)   the recommendations as now detailed in paragraph 2.2 of the report submitted, be approved and the outcome reported back to Members.