Agenda item

To receive the HR Update.

The Committee received an overview of the work undertaken within the HR Service over and above the re-active casework.? 

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The Service Manager for Human Resources provided an update, the main point of which were as follows:? 

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• The Service Level Agreement (SLA) to provide Payroll, Advisory services and Health and Safety support to the National Park Authority (NPA) had once again been agreed and signed to enable work with the NPA to continue.? 

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• On the Staff Engagement Survey, the Committee heard that the HR team were working through the outcomes of the survey and that an action plan was being developed. An update may be provided at the next meeting with this action plan and the steps that had already been taken to address elements of the survey’s feedback. This will be shared with all staff members.? 

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• The National Recruitment Campaign had been a success and following its closure at the end of January 2025, data showed that the NFDC job web page had seen a rise from 4000 to 9000 visitors.?? 

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• A new NFDC Microsoft Teams background highlighting the Council’s job’s webpage was available and already being used by HR staff.? 

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• The HR service had been working with colleagues in the Transformation team to progress the Recruitment Process Review. The review would develop new, refined recruitment processes to automate the system and reduce the amount of manual, repetitive work involved in recruitment.? 

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• On the Learning Management System, it was explained that the HR service had updated the Executive Management Team on the matter. The module completion rate was at 80% as of the end of January 2025. Those who had yet to complete the mandatory modules of learning were being monitored and supported. The service was considering the range of eLearning modules and how best to enable staff access to the most effective route forward for appropriate and suitable learning.?? 

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• Due to amendments in the Equalities Act, a new policy on the prevention of sexual harassment in the workplace. The Equalities, Diversity and Inclusion Group sounding board had provided feedback on this new policy and an additional element had been added into the Bullying and Harassment Brief Bite training for staff 

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• On the new Buying and Selling Annual Leave policy, the Committee heard that 22 applications to buy Annual Leave had been approved, 6 applications to sell had been approved and 8 applications were pending.? 

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• The long service awards were one of several Corporate Employee Events. The award service recognised those members of staff who had worked for the Council for over 20 years. The recognition awards, a celebration of long-term training and employee suggestions, was also well attended and found valuable by those employees that attended.?? 

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• Following a question from a Committee member it was explained that some of the optional eLearning modules could be made available for Councillors. It was confirmed that these modules and courses would be publicised by way of either communication emails or HR emails and that Councillors were encouraged to view and consider which modules were of interest or relevance to them.? 

RESOLVED: 

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That the report be noted.