Agenda and draft minutes

Moved by Chris McKinney (UNISON) and seconded by Councillor Steve Fritchley

RESOLVED that Liz Robinson (UNISON Convenor) be elected as Chair of the Union / Employee Consultation Committee for the 2025/26 Municipal Year.

Moved by Councillor Sally Renshaw and seconded by Councillor Steve Fritchley

RESOLVED that Councillor Mary Dooley be appointed as Vice-Chair of the Union / Employee Consultation Committee for the 2025/26 Municipal Year.

Moved by Councillor Sally Renshaw and seconded by Councillor Steve Fritchley

RESOLVED that Chris McKinney (UNISON) be elected as Chair for the meeting.

Chris McKinney (UNISON) in the Chair

Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillor Mary Dooley and Liz Robinson (UNISON Convenor).

To note any urgent items of business which the Chairman has consented to being considered under the provisions of Section 100(B) 4(b) of the Local Government Act 1972.

There was no urgent business to be considered at the meeting.

Members should declare the existence and nature of any Disclosable Pecuniary Interest and Non Statutory Interest as defined by the Members’ Code of Conduct in respect of:

a)  any business on the agenda

b)  any urgent additional items to be considered

c)  any matters arising out of those items

and if appropriate, withdraw from the meeting at the relevant time.

There were no declarations made at the meeting.

To consider the minutes of the last meeting held on 12^th March 2025.

Moved by Chris McKinney (UNISON) and seconded by Councillor Rowan Clarke

RESOLVED that the minutes of a meeting of the Union / Employee Consultation Committee held on 12^th March 2025 be approved as a true and correct record.

The HR Business Partner presented the report to the Committee.

The average number of days lost per employee in Quarter 4 2024/25 was 2.8 days, with the outturn for the average number of days lost per employee standing at 9.5 days for 2024/25 (the annual target had been 8.5 days).

6 Services experienced zero sickness in Quarter 4 2024/25 (a further 4 Services had experienced less than 1 day per full-time equivalent (FTE) employee absence).

Stress/Depression had remained in the top three reasons for absence since Quarter 2 2019/20.  There had been 11 cases of absence due to Stress/Depression in Quarter 4 2024/25 (3 work related, 8 none work related).

There had been 0 days of sickness recorded for COVID-19 in Quarter 4 2024/25 – the first quarter recorded since the start of 2024/25.  It was offered staff may not be testing for COVID-19

There were 19 long-term sickness cases in Quarter 4 2024/25 – 14 due to physical health ailments and 5 related to Stress/Depression (3 of which were work related).

10 employees had returned to work, 7 remained absent, and 2 had left the Council’s employ.

Health and wellbeing initiatives included: Support When You Need It – Vivup’s Confidential Employee Assistance Programme; World Menopause Day 2024 and two sessions of the Menopause Support Group completed; International Men's Day 2024; Fraud Awareness Week; Online Fire Safety Checks; Cervical Cancer Awareness Week; Macmillan Monthly Walking Groups; Race Equality Week; Eating Disorders Awareness Week; Vivup Rewards & Benefits; Your Financial Wellbeing Courses; and Go!Active subsidised membership (for Quarter 4 2024/25, this stood at 64 subscribers).

The Chair noted good work was taking place – Stress/Depression no longer in the top three reasons for absence was a positive sign and a result of the HR Team’s hard work.

Referring to the organisational outturn on the average number of days absent (and this cost), a Member asked what the total number of staff employed by the Council was.  The HR Business Partner informed that a rough estimate was about 415 FTE employed.

The Strategic Director of Services shared gratitude to the HR Team for assisting in the support of long-term, complex cases.

Moved by Chris McKinney (UNISON) and seconded by Councillor Rowan Clarke

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

The Chair thanked Members and officers for their attendance and contributions to the meeting.