Report of the Executive Member for Finance and Human Resources

This reports provide an overview of work undertaken and progress towards the delivery of the Council's priorities as set out in the Our Manchester Strategy for those areas within the portfolio of the Executive Member for Finance and Human Resources

The Committee considered the report of the Executive Member for Finance and Human Resources, which provided an overview of work undertaken and progress towards the delivery of the Council’s priorities, as set out in the Our Manchester Strategy (OMS), for those areas within his portfolio.

Some of the key points that arose from the Committees discussions within the Executive Members report were: -

·                How did the Executive Member intend to improve how the Council monitored and managed its contracts;

·                What were the main concerns arising from the BeHeard 2018 survey results and what was the Executive member doing to address these concerns;

·                What progress had been made with the appointment of a full time Director of HROD;

·                What role did the Council have in relation to the Credit Union offer being promoted to staff and how was this being promoted;

·                Doe the Council offer payroll saving to a Credit Union and if so how is this being promoted;

·                A request was made that the Executive Member assisted in getting a response to the Committee on the Trade Union recognition from Highways contracts;

·                Could the Executive Member give an assurance that all staff employed on the Manchester International Festival (MIF) 2020 would be paid a minimum of the Manchester Living Wage;

·                What involvement did the Executive Member  in the Council’s review of the diversity of its workforce, and if it did not already, would this review look at those staff subject to misconduct;

·                What consideration or thought had the Executive Member given to incorporating the Council’s recently adopted stance on climate change within the procurement process; and

·                A request that the success of the recent Council Tax charge on empty properties pilot was included in the annual Revenue and Benefits report.

The Executive Member for Finance and Human Resources advised that he had established a small working group of officers to look at contract management with a  view to establishing a database.  He had also met with Open Data for advice and guidance on how monitoring could be implemented.  This work was on going at present but was intended to help shape how improvements could be made to how contracts were monitored and managed.

The main concerns arising from the BeHeard survey were in the main at Senior Leadership Group level and the feeling amongst staff at this level not having the flexibility to actually drive forward improvements.  The Chief Executive and City Treasurer (Deputy Chief Executive) were meeting with these staff to address the concerns that had been raised.  In the main, he advised that satisfaction levels were up amongst staff and there had been a 77% positive response from staff who felt that their managers helped fulfil their potential.  He acknowledged that there was still work to be done to improve certain areas and ensure that Manchester City Council was a place where people wanted to come and work and this was being addressed though Listening into Action sessions.

The Committee was advised that at present there was an Interim Director of HROD in place and he anticipated that the role would be appointed to by the end of August 2019.

The Executive Member for Finance and Human Resources advised that the Council had well established relationships with two Credit Unions within the city and the Council’s role was purely in making staff aware of the services available through the Credit Unions and helped staff make a connection with one of the Unions should they require financial support.  There had been a soft launch of the offer and a more formal wider communication was planned.  In terms of a payroll saving scheme, the Council did offer this to its staff and agreed to provide information around the take up of this offer to the Committee and agreed that as part of the communication to staff on the Credit Union offer, this would also be part of the communications.  He agreed to chase officers for a response to the request around Trade Union recognition form the Highways contractors and gave an assurance that all staff employed at MIF 2020 would be paid the Manchester Living Wage as a minimum.

The Committee was advised that a Peer Review was being undertaken around the diversity of the workforce and this would also include a review of the diversity of staff subject to misconduct proceedings.  The Executive Member advised that he was meeting regularly with the Interim Director of HROD and Trade Unions around a wider piece of work around ensuring equality and diversity across the workforce was embedded, which included all protected characteristics.

In terms of incorporating the Council’s recently adopted stance on climate change within the procurement process, the Committee was advised that it was planned to include a 10% weighting in two of the major Highways contracts to address any environmental impact as well as the 20% weighting for Social value.  He advised that it would be for the Highways department to determine and set the criteria for the 10% environmental impact weighting.

Decision

The Committee notes the report.