Minutes:
It was agreed that Cllr Clarence Barrett (Deputy Portfolio Holder) would be the overarching spokesperson for the Workforce Portfolio.
The following five areas were agreed as the key work strands within the Workforce remit. The work programme was agreed as set out in the report, with members providing the below steer on specific pieces of work, or a particular focus required, to take the work programme forward.
Skills and Apprenticeships
· Cllr Linda Van den Hende to retain Skills Champion role appointed at the July Board.
· As part of this Cllr Linda Van den Hende would canvass Regional Employers bodies and Resources Portfolio members as an intelligence gathering exercise. Unions were also recognised as a useful source of intelligence – i.e. learning agreements, union learn, workforce development etc.
· This work to be a combination of business as usual as well as exploring intersections between National Living Wage, productivity and service redesign.
· Whilst the focus would be on employed individuals, links should also be made to the skills and employment work being undertaken by the City Regions and People and Places Boards.
· The need to strengthen elected member leadership and engagement in strategic HR issues such as organisational design and culture was emphasised. Utilising the Regional Employers bodies to support this was suggested.
Pensions
· The political challenge of pension reform was highlighted. Members would have a key role in coordinating at a political level.
· There was an important role for members in working with the pension schemes and Government to achieve efficiencies and to help add value – i.e. explore cost benefits of pooling; and negotiate with HMT on an realistic approach to deficit management.
The new National Living Wage
· The responsibility for this mainly sits with the National Joint Council. The Portfolio’s focus would be on the redesign of jobs and achieve value for money.
Employment Law and Trade Union Reform
· This areas was not so much a deliverable but to keep Members abreast of employment law changes and implications of Trade Union reform – i.e. referendum on Europe and the impact on employment rights.
· Exploratory work to understand the value of check-off arrangements between trade unions and employers.
The integration of the health and social care workforce
· A specific Member lead on this area would be beneficial.