Issue - meetings

The Human Resources Strategic Lead introduced the report which gave detail on staff turnover for the year 2024/25, including any trends identified and the findings from leaver’s exit interviews. She said that vacancies within Planning remained difficult to recruit to, with many staff staying for approximately two years before leaving to work for a bigger authority – which the council could not compete with monetarily.

The Human Resources Strategic Lead said that in the last quarter of the year 6 people had been lost from Planning which was unusual, and that Human Resources had lost 2 people, 1 retiring and the other leaving due to personal circumstances. She said that 2% of leavers had been via dismissal which showed that policies were being used.

The Human Resources Strategic Lead said that staff’s behaviour may change with local government reform – with many choosing to stay in their current positions. She said that recruitment was expensive, with some vacancies being held due to restructure and to avoid redundancies. She added that ‘killer questions’ had now been added to the beginning of job application forms to weed out overseas applicants looking for sponsorship.    

The Chair thanked the Human Resources Strategic Lead for the report.

Councillor Swainston said that the information from exit interviews was very encouraging.

The Human Resources Strategic Lead said that over 80% of leavers said they liked working at East Herts in their exit interviews. She said that the results of the staff survey would be brought before the Committee at the next meeting.

The Chair asked for further information on the use of agency staff.

The Human Resources Strategic Lead said that the use of agency staff was higher in Planning, with jobs having to be covered. She said that it would be good to have a memorandum of cooperation with other local authorities to enable costs to be capped across the region and understand the future footprint.

It was moved by Councillor Willcocks and seconded by Councillor Connolly, that the recommendations, as detailed, be approved. After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, this motion was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED – that (A) the Annual Turnover Report 2024/2025, including the actions (in section 11.0) planned for 2025/26, be considered; and

(B)   any comments be provided to the Strategic HR Lead.