Agenda item

To accept and note the information in the report.

The report was submitted by Councillor Llio Elenid Owen. ⁠

DECISION

To accept and note the information in the report.

DISCUSSION

The report providing an update on what had happened recently presented in the Corporate and Legal Services Department. It was expressed that the Corporate Services Department was leading on six projects within the different priority areas of the Council's Plan 2023-28 namely Keeping the Benefit Local, Women In Leadership, Ensuring Fairness for All, Workforce Planning, Promoting the Use of the Welsh Language by Gwynedd Residents and a Strategic Review of Health and Safety Management. A summary was provided on what had been achieved to date within these projects.

It was highlighted that the Corporate Services Department was performing well and reference was made to some of the highlights as set out in part 5 of the report. In conclusion, reference was made to the Department's financial position.

Observations arising from the discussion:

•           Reference was made to the Legal Service Performance Report and it was noted that it was encouraging to see the benefits of Cynllun Yfory.

•           Concern was expressed about the reference to the appointment of a locum and the externalisation of work, further details were requested about the number of locums used by the Service and if they are able to undertake work in Welsh. It was also asked about the recruitment challenges and any resulting financial risks.

o          In response it was confirmed that the staffing position had transformed for the better in the last two years. It was noted that a position was currently being advertised and the hope was that they could appoint.

o          It was confirmed that the recruitment situation had improved and that this had led to a reduction in the Service's use of locums.

o          It was noted that the Service was now able to recruit by offering a short-term contract rather than employing a locum.

o          It was expressed that efforts were being made to use Welsh-speaking locums although it was recognised that these were scarce.

o          It was explained that many issues and cases were open by the Legal team and that the use of locums allowed them to bridge gaps to cope with the work. It was added that the nature of the work was specialised with certain technical areas and that there was not enough of the work to appoint but that specific expertise was required for a period of time so that an element of locums use was inevitable.

•           An update was requested on the effort to try to get more staff on board with the Equality Forum.

o          It was expressed that the initial work of finding out what the interest was had been carried out and an invitation had been sent to staff. It was noted that there was strong interest among staff and that the Department was waiting to see what the response would be following sending out a second invitation last week.

•           Congratulations were expressed on the success of the Women in Leadership programme, and it was noted that it was pleasing to see the progress. The differences were highlighted in the division of men and women between Departments and between job tiers. It was questioned if it was timely to evaluate the programme and compare the differences between Departments to see what works well to continue to learn and look at new ways to push this long-term agenda forward.

o          In response it was noted that the data was constantly being updated. Reference was made to a new year-long regime of requests for Service Manager level positions or above to be submitted anonymously in an attempt to remove any unconscious bias. It was reported that 50% of appointments over the past year to Service Manager positions or above had been filled by women and this was very encouraging. It was further added that more women than men submitted an application form for the posts and that this was a vital part of the work of the Women in Leadership programme which was to encourage women to apply.