Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillor David Downes and Councillor Dan Salt.

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.

The Chair explained that there was one urgent item of business which he had consented to being considered under the provisions of Section 100(B) 4(b) of the Local Government Act 1972. This item was a report titled ‘Review of the Council’s Policy under the Gambling Act 2005’ which had been circulated as part of the second supplementary agenda.

The Environmental HealthManager – Commercial & Environment presented the report, and explained how the purpose of the report was for the Committee to consider renewal of the Council’s Policy under the Gambling Act 2005 before it would be considered by Licensing & Gambling Acts Committee on 21^st December 2021.

Members had no comments on the policy and agreed to note the intention to republish the current policy four weeks prior to its expiry date, and the revised draft Statement of Principles.

(N.B. Councillor Deborah Watson and the Environmental HealthManager – Commercial & Environment left the meeting at this point.)

RESOLVED that:

(i) The Committee notes the intention to republish the current policy four weeks prior to its expiry date; and

(ii) The Committee notes the revised draft Statement of Principles under the Gambling Act 2005 and the intention to carry out a public consultation on a new statement to be published in 2022.

(Environmental HealthManager – Commercial & Environment)

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.

Members were requested to declare the existence and nature of any disclosable pecuniary interests and/or other interests, not already on their register of interests, in any item on the agenda and withdraw from the meeting at the appropriate time.

There were no declarations of interest made.

To consider the minutes of the Climate Change and Communities Scrutiny Committee meeting on 12^th October 2021.

Moved by Councillor David Dixon and seconded by Councillor Evonne Parkin.

RESOLVED that the Minutes of a Climate Change and Communities Scrutiny Committee held on 12^th October 2021 be approved as a correct record.

(Members should contact the officer whose name appears on the List of

Key Decisions for any further information.  NB: If Members wish to discuss an exempt report under this item, the meeting will need to move into exempt business and exclude the public in accordance with the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985 and Local Government Act 1972, Part 1, Schedule 12a for that part of the meeting only).

The Scrutiny & Elections Officer presented the list of Key Decisions to Members.

RESOLVED that the list of Key Decisionsbe noted.

The Human Resources and Organisational Development Manager presented a report to inform and update the Scrutiny committee on progress with the Health and Wellbeing Framework. She explained some of the initiatives that had been undertaken:

1. Access to an Employee Assistance Programme offering 24/7 telephone and on-line support to employees covering a range of topics, including confidential telephone counselling.

2. Health Checks offered to employees

3. Occupational Health, Counselling, Physiotherapy and Eye examinations

4. Procurement of a new Occupational Health P

5. Resilience Briefing Sessions

6. Mental Health Training

7. Flu vaccinations

8. Covid Briefings

9. Covid-19 Guidance

10. Agile Working Policy & Briefings

11. Health & Wellbeing Notice Boards at all sites

12. Promotion of Work Well initiatives and information (including H&W Bulletin)

13. Facilitating access to Council Leisure facilities

She referred to some of the sickness absence information in the report and explained how sickness absence had been very low during the Covid pandemic because of people working from home.

Councillor David Dixon asked how Human Resources dealt with employees during the Covid era who had mental health issues. The Human Resources and Organisational Development Manager explained that mental health training had been offered to all employees, Occupational Health offered support, managers had regular 1-2-1 meetings to check on people, and mental health ‘cards’ would be sent out to people with support information. She added that when an employee had been on sickness absence, HR went through a process to find out if it was due to stress, and then find out if what the trigger of it was.

Councillor Janet Tait asked how long the period of absence had to be before an employee was referred to Occupational Health. The Human Resources and Organisational Development Manager explained that if HR thought it was urgent, they would refer them immediately.

Councillor David Dixon asked what the Westfield Health scheme involved and if they offered mental health support. The Human Resources and Organisational Development Manager explained that it was a scheme employees could pay into, and she would investigate whether or not Westfield Health offered mental health support.

The Chair asked if the low sickness absence statistics during the Covid pandemic was because employees working from home were more likely to struggle through illness. The Human Resources and Organisational Development Manager explained that the Home Working Survey would seek to find this out.

It was moved by Councillor David Dixon and seconded by Councillor Janet Tait to note the report.

(N.B. The Human Resources and Organisational Development Manager left the meeting at this point.)

RESOLVED that the progress update be noted.

The Scrutiny & Elections Officer presented the Work Programme 2021/22 to Members.

Councillor David Dixon referred to the Leisure Services update scheduled for 22^nd February 2022 and asked how the Council had funded the refurbishment of the Leisure facilities in The Arc, and if that cost included moving existing equipment. The Scrutiny & Elections Officer stated she would investigate this.

The Scrutiny & Elections Officer referred to theAnnual Review of Community Safety Partnership scheduled for 22^nd March 2022 and explained that an officer meeting on the subject was going to happen in January 2022, so Climate Change and Communities Scrutiny Committee would get to consider it on 22^nd March 2022.

The Chair asked if possible updates on the Woodland Project had been discussed. The Scrutiny & Elections Officer explained she would investigate this.

The Work Programme was moved by Councillor David Dixon and seconded by Councillor Evonne Parkin.

RESOLVED that the Committee notes the report and the Programme attached at Appendix 1 for approval.

(Scrutiny & Elections Officer)

Meeting concluded at 1050 hours.