Agenda

RECOMMENDED that the minutes of the meeting held on 29 November 2016 be confirmed and signed by the chair as a correct record.

The purpose of the report is to fulfil the requirement in section 38(1) of the

Localism Act 2011 (openness and accountability in local pay) to prepare a Pay Policy Statement.

A Pay Policy Statement must be prepared for each financial year, approved by Full Council no later than 31^st March of each financial year and published on the council's website.  The attached Pay Policy Statement was presented as a draft statement in June 2016 and now is confirmed as the final Pay Policy Statement for the financial year 2016/17.

In March 2016, the Employment Committee requested that, in order to increase transparency and public accountability, a draft Pay Policy Statement for the relevant financial year, be presented at an earlier stage of the financial year.  To achieve this, a further draft Pay Policy Statement will be published for 2017/18 using financial data from March 31^st 2017. 

RECOMMENDED that the Employment Committeeagrees the draft Pay Policy Statement attached as Appendix 1 to go forward for approval by the Full Council by 31 March 2017.

The purpose of this report is to update Employment Committee about levels of sickness absence across the council and actions being taken to manage absence.

RECOMMENDED that Members of Employment Committee:

(1)  Continue to monitor sickness absence, and ensure appropriate management action is taken to address absenteeism

(2)  Note the actions detailed in section 3 of the report.

The purpose of this report is to respond to members' request for further information about the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) including;

a.  Details on the contract itself and options available

b.  Details of current low usage of EAP and potential reasons for the low take-up

c.   Details of what is being done to increase awareness of EAP

RECOMMENDED that Members note the information regarding the Employee Assistance Programme and approve the continuation of this service to staff.

A verbal update will be provided to the Committee by the Director of HR, Legal and Performance.

The purpose of the report is to provide details of the city council's plan for using its apprenticeship levy allocation that was requested following the Apprenticeships report presented at the Employment Committee on 29^th November 2016.

RECOMMENDED that Members note and agree the contents of the plan to maximise the use of the city council's apprenticeship levy allocation.