Appendix 2

RESOURCES SELECT COMMITTEE – 21 AUGUST 2003

33.      BEST VALUE REVIEW OF PERSONNEL SERVICES

The Select Committee were advised that an internal review of Personnel Services had been completed in May 2002. Directors requested that an external challenge be undertaken and GWT Consulting were engaged to do the work. The consultants report had been received in March 2003 and several recommendations had already implemented. The Council was the largest employer on the Island and a People Management Strategy was now in place which would cover the next three years.

Members believed that a modern Human Resources function was needed and questioned whether the Council were using on-line recruitment. The Head of Human Resources advised members that although application forms were now available on-line and could be downloaded they could not as yet be filled in on-line. Members were of the opinion that there should be a move towards a centralised recruitment structure.

The Select Committee questioned the cost implications of £35,000 with regard to the increase of two full time posts within the Human Resources section. It was explained that any cost would be contained within the existing budget for this financial year and a bid would be put in thereafter. The Head of Human Resources would write to all members of the Select Committee advising them of the current situation within his section.

Members noted that Health and Safety was to be brought back in-house and were advised that it would sit under Environmental Health, who had been given the budget of £70,000. The Select Committee discussed aspects of the Healthy Workforce Strategy and asked that figures on manpower be brought back to the Select Committee together with other workforce statistics to include sickness, equality issues and health and safety.

Members were told that there were 30 modern apprentices within the organisation and there was also a need to provide work experience for pupils and students. The Select Committee asked what had happened to starters and leavers that used to be part of the Bulletin and asked that it be included in the future. Members believed that the Head of Human Resources should be attending all management meetings to ensure that the People Management Strategy was consistently implemented across the whole of the Council.

RESOLVED :

           (i)        THAT figures on manpower be brought back to the Select Committee to include statistics on sickness, equality issues and health and safety.

           (ii)       THAT the Council move towards a centralised recruitment structure.

           (iii)       THAT the Action Plan be brought back to a future meeting of the Select Committee.

           (iv)      THAT the starters and leavers be included on the Bulletin.

           (v)       THAT the Head of Human Resources attend DMT meetings in the future to ensure that the People Management Strategy is consistently implemented across the whole of the Council.

           (vi)      THAT a summary of the employee survey be brought to the Select Committee.