Issue - meetings

Report of the Interim Head of Employee and Customer Relations

The Forum received a report of the Head of Employee and Customer Relations, which set out employee data, presented by protected characteristic for the year ending 31 March 2018, relating to a range of employment matters.  The report also set out information on Harrow Council’s performance on equalities and the impact of its policies and practices on its employees in compliance with the requirements of the Public Sector Equality Duty set out in the Equality Act 2010 and the Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties) Regulations 2011.

The Employees’ side representatives made the following comments in relation to page 76 of the agenda:

-               there was an issue with pay bands and what they felt was a lack of accountability at senior level such as damage to the reputation to the Council;

-               there were examples of junior staff with disability/ill-health issues being forced into early retirement.

In response, the Divisional Director of Strategic Commissioning and the Head of Employee and Customer Relations stated that there had been dismissals in the top pay band. They would also be happy to discuss with the Unions the specific examples of ‘forced’ retirements they had mentioned.  They would review some of the figures in the report on page 76 of the agenda as they might not be correct.  They noted the suggestion that additional data such as the actual numbers rather than just percentages were required and that it could be presented as exempt business (Part II) if there was any risk of identifying individuals as a result.

RESOLVED:  That the report and the comments made in the preamble be noted.

Report of the Interim Head of Employee and Customer Relations.