Agenda and minutes

At this point, Members are asked to declare:

·        any personal interests not included on the Register of Interests

·        any prejudicial interests or

·        any disclosable pecuniary interests

which they may have in respect of business on this agenda.

At this point, Members were asked to declare any personal interests not included on the Register of Interests, prejudicial interest or any disclosable pecuniary interests which they may have in respect of business on the agenda. None were declared.

To approve and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 9 December 2019.

Resolved: That the minutes of the previous meeting held on the 9 December 2019 be approved and signed by the Chair as an accurate record, subject to the following amendment to minute 48 (Scoping Report for Corporate Project Management Approach) as set out below:

‘(i)      That Councillors Fenton and Wann explore the quality assurance process with Officers and report back to the Chair/Vice-Chair;

(ii)      That Councillor Barnes explore the change management process with Officers and report back to the Chair/Vice Chair;’

At this point in the meeting members of the public who have registered to speak can do so. The deadline for registering is 5.00pm on 10 January 2020. Members of the public can speak on agenda items or matters within the remit of the Committee.

To register to speak please contact the Democracy Officer for the meeting, on the details at the foot of the agenda.

Filming, Recording or Webcasting Meetings

Please note that, subject to available resources, this meeting will be filmed and webcast, or recorded, including any registered public speakers who have given their permission. The broadcast can be viewed at http://www.york.gov.uk/webcasts or, if sound recorded, this will be uploaded onto the Council’s website following the meeting.

Residents are welcome to photograph, film or record Councillors and Officers at all meetings open to the press and public. This includes the use of social media reporting, i.e. tweeting.  Anyone wishing to film, record or take photos at any public meeting should contact the Democracy Officer (whose contact details are at the foot of this agenda) in advance of the meeting.

The Council’s protocol on Webcasting, Filming & Recording of Meetings ensures that these practices are carried out in a manner both respectful to the conduct of the meeting and all those present.  It can be viewed at http://www.york.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/11406/protocol_for_webcasting_filming_and_recording_of_council_meetings_20160809.pdf

It was reported that there had been no registrations to speak under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

This report provides an update following the recent implementation of the Day One Attendance Management system.

Members considered a report that provided an update following the recent implementation of the Day One Attendance Management system supplied by Medigold. The officer noted that the implementation had gone well and that issues that had been highlighted by members of staff and trade unions were being addressed by Medigold and CYC through weekly contact.  They responded to several queries from Members around staff training to use the system and reporting. They confirmed that the new system provided a trained individual who could provide deeper analysis when speaking with staff members who report absence, this analysis would aim to identify a more accurate reason for absence that could be used to identify further support for staff. It was noted that there was not one way of reducing absenteeism and improving staff health, but that the support identified would aim to assist staff return to work and would include any appropriate adjustments which may be needed.

It was noted that the Day One Attendance Management system had not been in place long enough to provide meaningful data until the system has been running for a period of 3 months. Members considered what data they would want to receive at the Committee, taking into account the work of the Economy and Place Scrutiny Committee and Staffing and Urgency Committee. Members highlighted the ability to use data from the previous year in the same period to compare with the new data, access to mental health data, and data from the staff surveys. Members also considered inviting trade union representatives to a future meeting for their feedback when considering data.

Resolved:

                      i.         That the content of the report be noted.

                     ii.         That trade union representatives be invited to provide their feedback alongside the item on the six-monthly update report on implementation of Day-One Absence Scheme at the 6 April 2020 Committee meeting.

Reason:     To ensure that the Committee remain informed of the progress and impact of the implementation of the Day One Absence Management system.

This report informs the Committee of the Council’s Procurement Strategy and Social Value Policy and how these are used to deal with procurement processes for goods and services.

Resolved: That the Procurement Strategy and Social Value Policy report be deferred to the 12 April 2020 Customer and Corporate Services Scrutiny Management Committee.

Reason:     Due to unforeseen circumstances leading to the lack of availability of the key officer who was due to present the report and subsequent work-plan congestion.

This report provides Members with a six-monthly update on the work of the Climate Change Policy and Scrutiny Committee.

The Chair of the Climate Change Policy and Scrutiny Committee presented a report providing the Committee with a six-monthly update on the work of the Climate Change Policy and Scrutiny Committee and set out the challenges and opportunities of the new Committee.

Members noted the recommendation made by the Climate Change Policy and Scrutiny Committee on the 16 December 2019, regarding the request to set up a Carbon Budgeting team and the appointment of a Carbon Budgeting Specialist. They further noted and discussed in some detail, the provision of resources within the coming budget proposals to address carbon budgeting issues, commenting that swift and decisive action would be needed if the Council were to meet its own challenge of becoming carbon neutral by 2030. In that regard, concerns were expressed about resources not yet being dedicated to provide direct technical advice and support to the Climate Change Policy & Scrutiny Committee.  

Resolved:

                      i.         That the Chair’s report and update be noted.

Reason:     To keep the Committee updated on the work of the Climate Change Policy and Scrutiny Committee.

This report provides Members with details of new petitions received to date, together with those considered by the Executive or relevant Executive Member/Officer since the last report to the Committee.

Members considered a report providing them with details of new petitions received to date, together with those considered by the Executive or relevant Executive Member/Officer since the last report to the Committee.

Petition 138. Living Wage was raised by Members, it was confirmed as outlined in the report that considerations around the Living Wage would be included in an agreed overview report on the Procurement Strategy and the Social Values Policy and also addressed in the Economy and Place Policy and Scrutiny Committee’s review into In-work Poverty.

Resolved:

                      i.         That the report be noted.

Reason:     To ensure the Committee carries out its requirements in relation to petitions.

To consider the Draft Work Plan for 2019-20.

An updated work plan was received for Members’ consideration.  Due to the ongoing pressure on scrutiny team resources, it was noted that the Chair and Vice Chair would reschedule business on the work plan as may be required between meetings. The following immediate changes to the work plan were then agreed:

Resolved:

                      i.         That the Procurement Strategy and Social Value Policy report be deferred to the 12 April 2020 Customer and Corporate Services Scrutiny Management Committee.

                     ii.         That the Overview report on Budget Setting report be deferred to the 11 May 2020Customer and Corporate Services Scrutiny Management Committee.

Reason:     Due to unforeseen circumstances leading to the lack of availability of the key officer who was due to present the report and subsequent work-plan congestion.