Issue - meetings

(a)       That the progress made against the target set for completion of appraisals for portfolios and the Council as a whole be noted;

(b)       That future reports will be included within the Workforce or Performance reports; and

(c)       That more detail be provided on ‘authorised exemptions’ in future reporting.

The Chief Executive introduced a report with detailed completion levels of appraisals by each portfolio, following the information received at the July 2016 meeting on Corporate Services.  Whilst the aim remained to achieve 100% completion levels, a degree of slippage was acknowledged and would be carefully monitored.  A number of contributory factors were highlighted such as the number of field-based officers in Social Services and the number of employees in Facilities Services within Organisational Change 2.

The Senior Manager, Human Resources and Organisational Development reported that since production of the report, completion of appraisals had increased by up to 10% including groups where light-touch appraisals had been undertaken.  She gave assurance of work to verify exemption figures and the quality of appraisals setting meaningful objectives and identifying knowledge/talent gaps.

Councillor Billy Mullin gave a reminder that appraisals were a two-way discussion, giving employees the opportunity to raise concerns or seek support.

Whilst acknowledging the progress made, Councillor Robin Guest pointed out that the achievement of 100% in some areas such as Organisational Change 2 was unlikely by the December deadline.  For fairness and accuracy, he suggested that future reports include a separate line for authorised exemptions.  The Chief Executive agreed and said that other sections were expected to close the gap on the completion rate.  He went on to explain the reason for employees of Clwyd Theatr Cymru being amongst those exempt, with the introduction of a new system at the Theatr based on collective business performance objectives.

Councillor Arnold Woolley welcomed the progress made on this long-standing issue.  On the second recommendation in the report, it was clarified that periodic reports would be incorporated as part of quarterly monitoring arrangements.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the progress made against the target set for completion of appraisals for portfolios and the Council as a whole be noted;

(b)       That future reports will be included within the Workforce or Performance reports; and

(c)       That more detail be provided on ‘authorised exemptions’ in future reporting.