Agenda item

The Chair invited Heather Wills, Principal Adviser, to present the report which set out the latest draft of a prioritised plan of LGA action in relation to local government workforce capacity, in light of the relevant issues for service areas experiencing the greatest challenges, latest progress and actions underway and planned by other bodies. Members were asked to comment on the draft plan and the approach to prioritised action in relation to activity which is currently unfunded and to consider the proposal to add lines to the budget submission to address specific issues relating to workforce as set out in para 9.34.

Members made the following comments:

• It was suggested that the diversity of workforce be considered in certain sectors such as building control.
• It was queried if there had been any focus on educational psychologists given the increase in demand
• Local government needed to be considered more appealing by those leaving further education as well as the ageing workforce who may wish to retrain
• Members expressed that as well as focusing on the supply side, especially in children’s social care, there should be long term consideration and focus on prevention including from the point of view of workforce capacity. Retainment is just as important as recruitment.

In response, Heather Wills and Naomi Cooke, Head of Workforce, made the following comments:

• Officers will follow up the query to see if diversity is considered within the scheme to increase capacity in building control funded by DLUHC
• There is DLUHC grant funding to promote working in local government more generally via a pilot of a new recruitment campaign
• Future reports will give updates on pilots in which the LGA is involved in
• There was lots of activity to address workforce challenges in the planning sector.
• There is ongoing work in regions areas to address the issue of councils competing for staff
• The prioritised approach proposed is due to limited resource and funding for workforce capacity support
• Educational psychologists can be incorporated as part of work to address children’s social workers capacity challenges

Decision:

Members agreed the proposed additional content to be includes for submissions for Autumn / Spring statements / budgets in relation to workforce resourcing, set out in paragraph 9.34 of Appendix A; and

Members supported the draft plan and approach to prioritised action set out in the report, subject to the above comments.