Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence

An apology for absence was submitted from Councillor Pauline Helliar Symons.

To confirm the Minutes of the Meeting held on 15 December 2016.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Board held on 15 December 2016 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive any declarations of interest

There were no declarations of interest submitted.

To answer any public questions

A period of 30 minutes will be allowed for members of the public to ask questions submitted under notice.

The Council welcomes questions from members of the public about the work of this committee.

Subject to meeting certain timescales, questions can relate to general issues concerned with the work of the Committee or an item which is on the Agenda for this meeting.  For full details of the procedure for submitting questions please contact the Democratic Services Section on the numbers given below or go to www.wokingham.gov.uk/publicquestions

There were no public questions.

To answer any member questions

There were no Member questions.

To receive a report regarding the recruitment and retention of social workers. (Part 2 sheet included)

The Board considered a report regarding the recruitment and retention of children’s social workers.

During the discussion of this item the following points were made:

·         Phase 1 of the Children’s Social Care Recruitment & Retention Strategy and Plan 2014-2019 had begun in October 2014 and had included a pilot bonus and annual leave scheme.  This had been reviewed after 2 years. 

·         Whilst recruitment and retention had improved more still needed to be done.  Feedback on the pilot scheme had been mixed regarding having additional annual leave and working fixed hours instead of flexi hours.  Members agreed that further work was required.

·         More detailed discussions which included exempt information took place in Part 2 session.

RESOLVED:  That

1)        the ongoing work with regard to the development of an enhanced reward package for children’s Social Workers be noted.

2)        how the Council is taking forward the Children’s Social Work Recruitment and Retention Strategy as set out in the Part 2 sheet of the report, be noted.

The Personnel Board may exclude the public in order to discuss the Part 2 sheets above and to do so it must pass a resolution in the following terms:

That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1,2 and 4 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act as appropriate.

RESOLVED:  That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1, 2 and 4 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act as appropriate.

To receive a report regarding the Board exercising its Pension Discretions.

The Board considered a report which requested that it exercise its pension discretions with regards to an individual member of staff.

RESOLVED:  That the recommendation set out in the Part 2 report be agreed.