Issue - meetings

The Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development submitted a report which set out the turnover rate for 2018/19 and outlined recommendations for 2019/20.  The Head of HR provided a summary of the report.

Councillor M McMullen expressed concern about the targets and queried the basis for increasing the targets from 10% to 15%.  The Head of HR explained that the figures were not currently in line with national figures and questioned whether there was a need to have a turnover figure.

Councillor S Newton raised the issue of exit questionnaires and said that she felt that it would be useful to see and evaluate why people were “coming and going”.   She raised concerns about a loss of continuity and historical information if staff left after a short period of time.  The Head of HR acknowledged this concern, adding that it was about achieving the correct balance to grow the organisation. 

The Committee Chairman raised the issue of the Staff Survey.  The HR Officer confirmed that this would next take place in 2020.  In response to a possible correlation between the highest turnover rate and the highest absence, the Head of HR confirmed that there was no correlation.   

The Committee Chairman raised the issue of recruitment costs and obtaining value for money.  The Head of HR updated Members on the various social media platforms which were used to advertise posts.  He hoped to achieve economies by centralising the recruitment budget. 

It was moved by Councillor P Ruffles and seconded by Councillor R Bolton that option (ii) that turnover targets be removed and to monitor these against wider benchmarks and more local benchmarks directly sourced. i.e. with other local district Councils be supported.  After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, the motion was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED – that (A) the turnover report be noted;

(B)   turnover targets be removed and that they monitored against wider benchmarks and more local benchmarks directly sourced i.e. other local district Councils.