Agenda item

To consider a report to review the potential for the Council to adopt new ways of working as part of the recovery process (copy attached).

11.15 a.m. – 12.10 p.m.

Agreement on the recommendation was by consensus.  No formal vote was taken.  All members indicated they were in favour of the recommendation, no one indicated they were against it and no one indicated they wanted to abstain.

Resolved: - subject to the above observations:

(i)           to receive the information provided in relation to the Council adopting new ways of working as part of the recovery process; and

(ii)          support the potential opportunities for the Authority to embed new and more effective ways of working into future working practices.

The Lead Member for Corporate Services and Strategic Direction, Councillor Richard Mainon, introduced the Embedding New Ways of Working report (previously circulated).

Many of the Council’s functions had been delivered successfully through virtual working during the pandemic.  Users accessing the Council’s systems virtually had risen during the pandemic from approximately 200 per day up to almost 1600.  Most meetings, operational and democratic, were currently “virtual”.

Benefits of working this way had reduced the Council’s carbon impact due to business mileage and travel to meetings being reduced.  Local traffic congestion and consequent pollution had reduced and working from home had improved the work life balance for many people, staff and Members alike.

For these reasons, it was proposed the model be maintained when social distancing was no longer required.  Most routine meetings should be virtual and working from home full time/ part time should be the normal way of working.

All details were in full within the Appendix of the report.

The Chief Executive confirmed her agreement with the Lead Member and also stated it had been a positive impact on most staff.  Staff had received a questionnaire for their views on the ways of working during the pandemic.  Feedback from staff had been that working from home was good for a majority of people’s mental health, whereas a minority found it was not suitable for them.  The Chief Executive also confirmed the way people work would not go back to how they were pre-pandemic.  Home working was also making DCC more attractive as an employer due to the fact that future employees could be living outside the area as they would be working from home.

The Head of Business Improvement & Modernisation informed members that following the staff questionnaire 80% of staff stated they preferred to work from home.  Staff also stated it was time to change the way of working.  The results of the questionnaire was to be discussed during SLT that afternoon.   Members had also been sent a questionnaire regarding the way forward of working.  The consultation with members was due to end during the current week.  Technology had improved immensely since the start of lockdown.   The Lead Member, Councillor Richard Mainon, was to form a Working Group with members to assess the results of both staff and members’ questionnaires.

During discussions, the following points were raised:

·         The mental wellbeing of staff who live alone was raised.   Officers confirmed that in the future there could be a hybrid way of working with possibly splitting the working week to part time at home and part in the office.  Also it would be positive for all staff to meet in the office or other venues to network and to catch up with colleagues.

·         As less staff were attending office buildings members questioned whether there was the prospect of selling any buildings.  The Lead Member confirmed there would be a review of council buildings in the future but this was not imminent.

·         The potential economic impact on the county’s town centres and local  businesses due to a reduction in footfall in town centres due to Council and other large employers’ staff working more from home

·         To assist staff there were two schemes with Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) where staff could claim tax relief for working from home or put in a pro-rata claim for household bills.

·         Members raised the fact that the translation facility needed to be in place during meetings and officers confirmed this was in the process of being organised and currently being tested.  Bi-lingual public committee meetings would soon be taking place via Zoom.

The Chief Executive thanked members for their comments, especially regarding the welfare of staff.   Managers were in regular contact with their staff whilst home working.  A hybrid balance of future working seemed to be the most appropriate way forward.  Staff could attend at a council building or other facility for team building or networking but the buildings would require to be reconfigured.  This was the way forward.

Agreement on the recommendation was by consensus.  No formal vote was taken.  All members indicated they were in favour of the recommendation, no one indicated they were against it and no one indicated they wanted to abstain.

Resolved: - subject to the above observations:

(i)           to receive the information provided in relation to the Council adopting new ways of working as part of the recovery process; and

(ii)          support the potential opportunities for the Authority to embed new and more effective ways of working into future working practices.