Venue: By Zoom. View directions
Contact: Rachel Pugh - Scrutiny and Democratic Support Officer
Email: rachel.pugh1@powys.gov.uk
Media
Items
No. |
Item |
1. |
Apologies
To receive apologies for absence.
Minutes:
Apologies for absence
were received from
Cllr D Thomas Cabinet
Member for Finance and Corporate
Transformation
|
2. |
Election of Vice Chair
Arising from the
Annual Meeting of the Council, to elect a Vice-Chair for the
ensuing year.
Minutes:
RESOLVED:
that County Councillor Karl
Lewis be elected
Vice-Chair for the ensuing
year.
|
3. |
Disclosures of Interest
To receive any disclosures of interests by
Members relating to items to be considered at the meeting.
Minutes:
There were no disclosures of interest by
Members relating to items to be considered at the meeting.
|
4. |
Declaration of Party Whips
To receive disclosures of prohibited party
whips which a Member has been given in relation to the meeting in
accordance with Section 78(3) of the Local Government Measure
2011.
(NB: Members are reminded that under Section
78 Members having been given a prohibited party whip cannot vote on
a matter before the Committee.)
Minutes:
The Committee did not receive any disclosures
of prohibited party whips which a Member has been given in relation
to the meeting in accordance with Section 78(3) of the Local
Government Measure 2011.
|
5. |
Minutes of Previous Meetings PDF 90 KB
To authorise the Chair to sign the minutes of
the previous meeting held as follows as a correct record:
28.04.2023
Minutes:
Outcome:
The Chair was
authorised to sign the Minutes of the previous meetings as a correct record
28.04.2023.
|
6. |
Recruitment PDF 386 KB
To receive a presentation by Gemma Gabriel
- Professional Lead Human Resources
Management and Development
Additional documents:
Minutes:
Background:
·
An update was provided around the challenges
experienced by the Council to recruit, retain, and attract
staff.
·
Risks have been identified and a transformational
and agile approach is being taken to review recruitment systems,
processes, and activities to address the challenges and
risks.
·
A new recruitment brand has been launched with a
number of follow on events and activities, which has generated some
successful results.
Points raised by the
Committee:
|
Responses received from Officers or Cabinet
Members.
|
It was asked how the council were attracting personnel into
Highways, Transport and Recycling (HTR) roles and if there was any
flexibility in grading to retain staff.
|
Due to a highly competitive market the
benefits of working for the Council are being sold and staff
numbers were improving and reaching sufficient levels. In addition,
initiatives such as providing opportunities for staff to
undertake HGV testing, have been implemented. However external
contractors were used last year to assist HGV
drivers.
It was hoped that a pool of staff can be gathered to draw on
when needed.
Market comparisons are planned across the authority as part of
the wider HR plan, which should also help provide some useful data
to support with recruitment initiatives in this
area.
|
How was the Council encouraging apprenticeships and university
spaces.
|
The draft Organisational Development Plan details this as an
areas for development. The work on apprentices is working well and
the next stage will be to provide graduate
opportunities.
|
|
Cabinet Member noted the problems within the Recycling Services
and by working closely with HR hope to improve the process and make
application forms easier.
Reliable contractors were brought in at a reasonable cost to
overcome short term gaps within the service.
Seasonal working hours have been introduced in some areas and
has proved successful.
Gender aspects within HTR were also being looked into, to
attract a greater gender balance mix.
|
How does the recruitment campaign go out to universities and
colleges as many young people leave Powys to study, what is
available to attract young people back.
Is there a way of tracking where young people attend education
to target advertising.
|
Flexible remote working roles are promoted more nationally, as
it is recognised that individuals could work some distance away
from Powys in some of these positions.
Social Media is a big national platform used, and recruitment
fairs outside the County were being explored and
attended.
The Council offers a wide range of alternatives career paths for
young people, however, it is recognised that young people may not
be aware enough of what the Council can fully offer. Career
pathways is another important element of the draft People Strategy
and Organisational Development Plan.
Career Fairs offer another route of promotion of opportunities
into the Council for young people. Some have been undertaken
and been extremely successful.
|
It was commented that social care training settings/providers
could be looked into and targeted for recruitment and the council
should provide investment to resource promotion around
working for the Council.
Are local ... view the
full minutes text for item 6.
|
|
7. |
Climate Overview PDF 4 MB
To receive the Transport and Mobility Climate
Action Plan (Including a Climate Overview).
Additional documents:
Minutes:
Background:
·
The presentation provided a complete overview of the
Council’s involvement and commitment to achieve set targets
within the climate and nature emergency.
·
The Powys Climate and Nature Programme has broad
coverage involving internal and external groups including
stakeholders.
·
The Council also provide carbon accounts to the
Welsh Government which provide details of the carbon footprint and
emissions across council assets and
operations.
Points raised by the
Committee:
|
Responses received from Officers or Cabinet
Members.
|
What long terms plans/options have the Council considered for
the fleet and has hydrogen been considered.
|
The Council would consider all options. Grid capacity
remains an issue and may hinder the process.
A transition plan is in place for the next seven years for fleet
to covert or move to different vehicles.
|
Slide 19 – breakdown of scopes for carbon accounts 2021-22
– scope 3, 78.5%
Scope 3 is critical (especially around procurement) and felt it
should be higher on the agenda and a yearly reduction target should
be set for the authority.
|
The Procurement Team are breaking down the contracts to show
where money and carbon is spent and aims to support local
suppliers.
Cabinet Holder for a Greener Powys explained procurement was a
challenging element, and a new strategy is in
place.
Action Plans were being compiled to provide assurance and that
Investment would be needed as a matter of urgency to ensure targets
are met.
|
Clarification required:
Council Net Zero by 2030
Welsh Government Net Zero by 2050
|
The Welsh Government set the 2030 target for the Public Sector
to show commitment to others and ensure the 2050 target for
the whole of Wales is met.
|
Since the Climate and Nature emergencies were declared in 2020,
would it be possible to share success stories of what has happened
so far or provide what best practise is being
shared.
|
Cabinet Holder for a Greener Powys explained to achieve Net Zero
by 2030 is a difficult challenge, several strategies were being
used as a benchmark and
engagement with Town and Community Councils could be used as an
exemplar.
A Steering Group has been set up with a Stakeholder Group to be
launched shortly to share knowledge, provide support, and take
action.
The Climate Management Board have formed Action Plans to
determine what needs to be achieved which will be circulated to
Stakeholders and help to progress them
forward.
|
Slide 19 – breakdown of scopes for carbon accounts 2021-22
– scope 3, 78.5%
Further encouragement was given to adding yearly reduction
targets around scope 3.
|
Experimental methods are being explored and the purchase of fuel
could be a target to reduce.
|
Mobility and Transport Action
Plan
|
|
The Action Plan is lacking figures, concerns were raised around
finance and how initial barriers would be removed.
And how other ways could determine
funding and investment.
|
Dates and costings were not currently available to the
Committee.
Work will be conducted with the Welsh Government to conduct
actions and provide some investment.
|
Would the work be externally audited.
|
There ... view
the full minutes text for item 7.
|
|
8. |
Scrutiny Work Programme
To note that future meetings of the Committee
will be held as follows:
Monday
17-07-23
|
Committee – Public
·
Revision of Transport policy
·
Buildings and Land – climate action plan
(suggest adding Governance action plan and procurement action
plan)
·
Workforce Planning – last on agenda
|
Thursday
14-09-23
|
Pre-Meeting
|
Monday
18-09-23
|
Committee - Public
·
Q1 Performance / Q1 Risk / Q1Finance
·
Freedom Leisure – annual report
·
Phosphate Update
|
Oct
|
Pre-Meeting
|
Monday
30-10-23
|
Committee - Public
·
Powys Economy – Full round-up
|
Dec
|
Pre-Meeting
|
Monday
11-12-23
|
Committee – Public
·
Housing waiting list
·
Garage / Property maintenance
·
Clearsprings
– accommodation for asylum seekers / update /
entitlement
|
Minutes:
The
Committee noted the dates for future meetings.
Monday
17-07-23
|
Committee – Public
·
Buildings and Land – climate action
plan
·
Governance – climate action
plan
·
procurement – climate action
plan
·
Workforce Planning
·
Winter Maintenance - Confidential
|
Thursday
14-09-23
|
Pre-Meeting
|
Monday
18-09-23
|
Committee - Public
·
Q1 Performance
·
Q1 Strategic Risk
·
Q1Finance
·
Freedom Leisure – annual
report
·
Phosphate Update
·
Revision of Transport policy
·
Customer Services Review outcome
reports
|
Oct
|
Pre-Meeting
|
Monday
30-10-23
|
Committee - Public
·
Powys Economy – Full round-up
·
Q2 Strategic Risk
|
Dec
|
Pre-Meeting
|
Monday
11-12-23
|
Committee – Public
·
Housing waiting list
·
Garage / Property maintenance
·
Clearsprings – accommodation for asylum
seekers / update / entitlement
|
|