Issue - meetings

To report to the Scrutiny Committee on the performance of the Corporate, Legal and Welsh Language Departments.

DECISION

1.     Accept the report and note the observations.

2.     Welcome the steps taken to address stress, to promote the role of women in leadership, and to ensure that employees have a voice in relation to health and safety arrangements within the Departmental Forums.

The report was presented by the Cabinet Member for Corporate and Legal Services and the Welsh Language, explaining that the report referred to the progress made against the promises of the Council's Plan and the department's performance measures. It was noted that performance had been discussed at a performance challenge meeting in September.

Members were reminded that the department was leading on six projects within various priority areas: keeping the benefit local, promoting the use of the Welsh language, workforce planning, ensuring fairness for all, women in leadership and a strategic review of health and safety management. The strategic review of health and safety management was highlighted, noting that there had been a slippage in two milestones within the project. The first was to introduce a new information technology system for health and safety across the Council, and the second was to develop a five-year audit plan. It was emphasised that the work was progressing and that the work was expected to be fully carried out.

In terms of day-to-day performance, it was noted that the situation was generally positive, but that several matters needed further attention. Reference was made to language assessments completed by staff, where the percentage had been high but had not yet reached the full target, with eight new members of staff not completing the assessment. Similarly, it was noted that 14 DBS applications were awaiting processing in Liverpool, and a further 44 awaiting implementation by staff or management, with the figures changing daily as new staff reached their renewal period. It was explained that the Safeguarding Operational Group discussed DBS performance on a quarterly basis, with a sub-group scrutinising the data.

It was noted that 52 referrals had been made to Occupational Health in August, with 48 members of staff attending appointments. Of those, 40 were absent from work, but following actions such as a phased return or reasonable adjustments, it was noted that 19 individuals had now returned to work.

In terms of data protection requests, 18 requests had been received during the quarter of which 13 were answered within the timeframe. It was noted that the complexity of many of the applications, particularly in the children's field, had influenced performance, and that if the numbers and complexity increased, the resources would need to be reviewed to cope.

It was noted that the average sick days per head across all Council services, including schools, stood at 4.43 days, compared to 4.23 last year. It was explained that an in-depth analysis for 2024-25 had been submitted to the Corporate Management Team and the Local Joint Consultative Committee, with action to be taken from that. It was noted that the average time to complete job appraisals had decreased from an average of 49.04 days to 35.09 days by the end of August. It was stressed that this performance reflected the work of the team but also depended on the number of applications received and other priorities within the department.

All the officers of the department were  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8