Issue - meetings

The Call-in Sub-Committee held on 28 February 2012 upheld the Call-in notice received in relation to mobile and flexible working on the grounds of inadequate consultation with stakeholders prior to the decision.

The decision is therefore referred back to Cabinet for re-consideration. Papers, including a reference report from the Call-in Sub-Committee, will be circulated on a supplemental agenda.

RESOLVED:  That, having re-considered the decision of the Cabinet meeting held on 9 February 2012, as set out at Appendix 3 to the report, in relation to the Transformation Programme and Mobile and Flexible Working, as a result of the decision of the Call-in Sub-Committee, the original Cabinet decision of 9 February 2012 be confirmed.

Reason for Decision:  In accordance with Committee Procedure Rule 46.8.3, to reconsider the decision within 10 clear working days of a referral by the Call-In Sub-Committee.

[Call-in does not apply.]

The Portfolio Holder for Performance, Customer Services and Corporate Services referred to the report, which set out the decision of the Call-in Sub?Committee following the consideration of the Call-in Notice in relation to the decision of Cabinet on 9 February on the Transformation Programme Mobile and Flexible Working.  He added that one of the two Call-in grounds – the absence of adequate evidence on which to base a decision – was not upheld due to insufficient grounds.  However, the Call-in ground of inadequate consultation with stakeholders prior to the decision had been upheld.  He agreed that whilst consultation should have taken place, he believed the way forward for Cabinet was to re-affirm its previous decision, as detailed reports on the proposals would be the subject of further discussions.

RESOLVED:  That, having re-considered the decision of the Cabinet meeting held on 9 February 2012, as set out at Appendix 3 to the report, in relation to the Transformation Programme and Mobile and Flexible Working, as a result of the decision of the Call-in Sub-Committee, the original Cabinet decision of 9 February 2012 be confirmed.

Reason for Decision:  In accordance with Committee Procedure Rule 46.8.3, to reconsider the decision within 10 clear working days of a referral by the Call-In Sub-Committee.

[Call-in does not apply].

The following documents are attached:-

a)                 Notice invoking the Call-in.

b)                 Minutes of the Cabinet Meeting held on 9 February 2012.

c)                  Report and tabled documentation submitted to the Cabinet Meeting held on 9 February 2012.

The Chairman welcomed Councillor Macleod-Cullinane, lead signatory to the call?in notice, to the meeting.  He also welcomed the Portfolio Holder for Performance, Customer Services and Corporate Services, who was in attendance, with his Cabinet Assistant, to respond to the call-in as part of a requirement of that process, the Corporate Director of Place Shaping and the Director of Customer Services and Business Transformation.  In accordance with Committee Rule 4.1.1, the Sub-Committee agreed that Councillor Stephen Wright could speak on behalf of the signatories at the meeting.

The Chairman, prior to the commencement of the consideration of the call?ins in relation to the decision made by Cabinet on 9 February 2012 on the Transformation Programme Mobile and Flexible Working, detailed the papers available to the Sub-Committee.  The call-in notice was submitted by seven Members of Council and cited 2 of the grounds set out in the Protocol (a and b).

Councillor Macleod-Cullinane confirmed that the Members call-in related to the decision made by Cabinet on the Transformation Programme Mobile and Flexible Working taken on 9 February 2012.  He also confirmed that the basis of their reasons for call-in related to grounds (a) and (b) of the Protocol, namely that there was inadequate consultation with stakeholders prior to the decision and there was an absence of adequate evidence on which to base a decision.

Councillors Macleod-Cullinane and Wright outlined their reasons relating to each of the grounds raised in the call-in notice.  During the course of their presentation, they raised the following issues:

·                     Members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee were a key stakeholder and as such had requested a briefing on Mobile and Flexible Working.  The proposals were a fundamental change, involved a significant amount of resource and affected a number of staff.

·                     Members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee had not been given sufficient opportunity to challenge the proposals and had been led to believe that there would be a briefing prior to Cabinet.

·                     Insufficient attention had been given to Members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee as stakeholders.

·                     There had been a briefing to the Administration on 14 January 2012 but the same opportunity had not been given to Members of the Opposition and therefore paragraph 3.1 of the Member/Officer Protocol had been breached.  In addition, the leadership of the major Opposition had not been kept informed on the proposals.

·                     Part II information had not been provided to members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee nor to Cabinet Members and therefore it was stated that information had not been available to Members in making their decision.

·                     The table detailing the savings did not explain how these would be made year on year.  There was no justification for the decision.

·                     Whilst the outcome of the decision might be correct how it was arrived at was not supported by documented evidence.

·                     The Sub-Committee needed to determine whether the correct decision-making process had been followed.

·                     The briefing to members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee had been held on  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18

Report of the Corporate Director Place Shaping.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)               the implementation of the Mobile and Flexible Working project, as set out in the report, be approved.

(2)               the Corporate Director Place Shaping, in consultation with the Leader and Portfolio Holder for Finance and Business Transformation and the Portfolio Holder for Performance, Customer Services and Corporate Services, be authorised to take all actions necessary to implement the project.

Reason for Decision:  To build on the enabling investments which are being implemented as part of the Councils IT contract, Transformation Programme, and business process and cultural change elements of the Transformation Programme.  The proposed investment is a key element of the Business Transformation Programme, which will totally transform the ability of the Council to deliver the right services, within budgets, at the time and place our residents demand.  To significantly contribute to the modernising of the Council’s ICT Infrastructure, business processes, data security, working practices and organisational culture, through adopting modern and proven ways of working, supported by best practice tools and techniques.  This investment will, over the course of the next few years, allow the Council to realise its vision of being a community hub for all residents’ services, collaborating and sharing with NHS, Police and partners alike, as well as facilitating a rationalisation of property assets.

The Portfolio Holder for Performance, Customer Services and Corporate Services introduced the report, which outlined the case for the Council to proceed with the implementation of the Mobile and Flexible Working project, which would ensure seamless working across all Directorates in conjunction with the residents of Harrow and the Council’s Partners.

The Portfolio Holder assured Cabinet that all outcomes had been reviewed both internally and externally and the Project would provide value for money.  The project had been scaled down to ensure its viability, and that it was the one of the final building blocks alongside the IT infrastructure, Customer Contact Assess and Decide (CCAD) project and the proposals for Modernising the Terms and Conditions of staff.  He referred to the flexible working initiative launched by O2 with a quarter of its UK force operating remotely and gave a flavour of how this had been received:

Director of Human Resources at O2 – “We live in such a connected world today that it is far easier for employees to remain in touch, no matter where they happen to be.  There are huge benefits to be gained in enabling your workforce to be mobile.  Not only does it foster trust between organisations and employees, but allows staff to shape their own working environment gives them back their most valuable resource – time.  It also allows companies to overcome geographical boundaries and open new doors in terms of recruiting the best talent.  So whether it is a mum that needs to be at home for the school run or an employee that working remotely three days and travels to the office for two, with the right tools, implementing flexible working policies have the potential to transform the way we do business.  For companies, it is hoped that the pilot will showcase the wider economic business case for flexible working in helping to drive efficiency, productivity and innovation.”

O2 Business Director – “While more than a third of businesses say that allowing staff to work flexible hours makes their workforce more productive, and 43% believe that it helps to retain employees, existing policies are often outdated and ineffective.  More than ¾ of organisations are hindering the sharing of best practice by preventing staff from working flexibly across teams, while 16% still have no flexible working policy at all.”

Andrew Marunchak, Specialist/Flexible Recruitment, Work Clever – An excellent initiative and example of the UK private sector realising the true potential of flexible working.  Hopefully, encouraging many more organisations to adopt flexible working practices and recognise the efficiency it can bring to business, it might be the ‘shot in the arm’ needed by our economy.”

The Portfolio Holder considered these comments to relate to Council business and that the moving of boundaries would help develop services.  He added that Mobile and Flexible Working was the last building block in the Modernisation of the Council and he commended the report to Cabinet.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)               the implementation of the Mobile and Flexible Working project, as  ...  view the full minutes text for item 376