Decision details

Purpose of Report: To update Members on progress being made in actively managing attendance across the authority and to request support for dedicated resource to reduce sickness absence.

Members are asked to note ongoing activity and to approve to release funding from the Venture Fund to support the centralised well being team for a period of two years.

Resolved:  (i)      That approval be given to engage with an external provider, as outlined in Option 2, to provide a dedicated service (selected through the council’s procurement process) for a 2 year period, to reduce sickness absence.

                   (ii)      That the use of £180k from the council’s venture fund be authorised for this purpose.

Reason:     To support the council in achieving a one-third reduction in its sickness absence rates by April 2021 and to transfer skills and knowledge to internal managers during this period.