Agenda item

To accept and note the information in the report.

 

The report was submitted by Councillor Menna Trenholme.

 

DECISION

 

To accept and note the information in the report.

 

DISCUSSION

 

The report was submitted on the Corporate Services Department, drawing attention to the following main points:

 

It was confirmed that the Department led on 6 projects within the different priority fields of the Council Plan 2023-28.

 

It was reported that a fifth series of the 'Women in Leadership' development programme was currently underway. Pride was expressed that women from every department were interested in taking part in the programme. Pride was expressed that the figure of women in managerial posts was 41%, which was an increase of 11% since establishing the project. It was confirmed that data was increasing, and the impact of the project was being updated continuously.

 

A pilot to submit anonymous job application forms was held this year. It was noted that the pilot would be adopted in the long term for posts from the 'Team Leader' and higher pay point, following positive feedback by managers who had appointed staff during the plan's period. It was explained that it was a standard method of considering applications and it was confirmed that the arrangements would be reviewed every 6 months.

 

Members were reminded that the Strategic Equality Plan 2024-28 had been adopted as part of the 'Ensuring Fairness for Everyone' project. It was explained that different services within the Council collaborated to manage various aspects of the plan. Pride was expressed that work had been undertaken to develop detailed milestones for all areas, with all of them on track to be completed in a timely manner this year. In addition, it was noted that training on manager duties in the equality field was in the process of being created, with specific information on how to conduct equality impact assessments. It was emphasised that heads of departments had access to information that provided an accurate picture of the number of staff who had completed the core training on equality.

 

Pride was expressed that there were over 300 applications for the apprenticeships plan this year, noting that this was approximately twice the number of applicants last year. It was confirmed that 15 new apprentices and 5 new professional trainees had been appointed. It was explained that this meant that the Council currently employed 51 apprentices and professional trainees on full-time contracts. Pride was expressed that 8 apprentices and 2 professional trainees had completed their qualifications and received full-time jobs with the Council recently. Attention was also drawn to 4 additional people who had been employed through the Talent Pool.

 

Specific attention was drawn to the Information and Research Service, thanking them for their detailed work in assessing the impact of the Council Tax Premium recently. It was reiterated that they had also received acknowledgement recently for their review of older people care services for the future in Gwynedd through the Llechen Lân plan, as the work had reached a short-list in a national event in the research field, with the result to be announced soon.

 

Observations arising from the discussion:

·       The Department was congratulated on the success of the 'Women in Leadership' plan and apprentices plan.

·       Reference was made to the 'Keeping the Benefit Local' plan, asking for further information on the development of the plan.

o   It was explained that the plan tried to ensure that local businesses could compete and win procurement contracts with the Council to ensure that as much of the Council's expenditure as possible would remain local. It was noted that this led to social benefits for Gwynedd. It was reported that there was an intention to build on the benefits for the future.

 

The report was submitted on the Legal Services Department, drawing attention to the following main points:

 

It was explained that the Legal Service's performance was being monitored by receiving feedback from the Departments that used it. It was reiterated that the feedback received within the current financial year confirmed that 100% of the Legal Service's users were very satisfied with the service provided.

 

Pride was expressed that the Service had benefited from being part of Cynllun Yfory for some years, and it was noted that the Service had managed to attract individuals' interest who achieved their qualifications and received jobs within the Service. It was elaborated that the Service had also benefited from the apprenticeships scheme, noting that the Service's first para-legal apprentice had been appointed recently. It was confirmed that an apprentice had also been appointed within the Elections Team.

 

Assurance was given that the recruiting problems within the Legal Service had now been resolved, noting that the Service could plan to address regional requirements. It was explained that an increase was seen in the demand for resources as the North Wales Corporate Joint Committee prepared to be operational.

 

It was confirmed that two elections had been held recently. It was explained that the General Election was a new challenge for the Elections service as it was a cross-border election, requiring effective collaboration with the Conwy and Denbighshire authorities.

 

All the staff from the Corporate Services and Legal Services were thanked for their work over the last year.

 

Observations arising from the discussion:

·       Attention was drawn to the Welsh Government's pilot scheme to establish the most accurate and effective way to register electors without them having to apply.

o   It was explained that the Council had committed to the pilot to automatically register residents to Government elections, using data that was available to the Council. It was hoped that this would increase the number of voters in the United Kingdom elections and the Senedd elections in Wales. It was noted that the pilot would be implemented from 2025 onwards and therefore the Elections team worked on systems to resolve any defects.