Agenda and decisions

To receive any apologies for absence.

To approve the minutes from the previous meeting.

The Committee resolved that the minutes of the Human Resources Committee held on 9 January 2024 be approved as a correct record, with an amendment minute 18, to reflect there had been 2 abstentions in the vote to approve the Chief Officer Pay Award. 

To receive and note any declarations of interests in respect of any matters included on the agenda for consideration at this meeting.

(The other registrable interests of Councillors of Somerset Council, arising from membership of City, Town or Parish Councils and other Local Authorities will automatically be recorded in the minutes: City, Town & Parish Twin Hatters - Somerset Councillors 2023 )

The Chair to advise the Committee of any items on which members of the public have requested to speak and advise those members of the public present of the details of the Council’s public participation scheme.

For those members of the public who have submitted any questions or statements, please note, a three minute time limit applies to each speaker and you will be asked to speak before Councillors debate the issue.

We are now live webcasting most of our committee meetings and you are welcome to view and listen to the discussion. The link to each webcast will be available on the meeting webpage, please see details under ‘click here to join online meeting’.

To receive an update on HR Policies.

The Committee considered and discussed the report and sought and received assurance about the criteria relating to the carers leave policy.

The Committee agreed to:

• Amended wording in the reason for recommendations to note that there may be small financial costs/implication to this policy.
• To approve the carers leave policy as per amended wording.

• Defer the Home working policy until the next meeting.
• Defer the careers break policy until the next meeting.

To receive an update on Agency and Locum staff numbers and vacancies.

To note the presentation on an update on workforce

To consider and approve Health and Safety Policies.

The Culture Report, Survey results and Update paper are provided for information.

After discussing the policy and report the members of the HR Committee agreed to approve and the following H&S policies:

• Food Safety Policy
 • Slips and Trips (Same Level Falls) Policy
 • Legionella Policy.

To consider the committee forward workplan.

The Committee considered and agreed the workplan and some additional agenda items/reports were suggested for future meetings.