Issue - meetings

(To receive a report from the Chief Executive which invites the Executive to note and support the Corporate Leadership Team's vision, goals and objectives for Smarter Working and the ongoing work to enable delivery of the project and to note the outcome of the Smarter Working Staff Survey)

(1)  That Corporate Leadership Team's vision, goals and objectives for Smarter Working and the on-going work to enable delivery of the project, be noted.

(2)  That the outcome of the Smarter Working Staff Survey be noted.

A report on behalf of the Chief Executive was presented by the Assistant Director – Transformation, Programmes and Performance – and set out the agreed vision, goals and objectives for smarter working, and included an analysis of the responses received in the staff survey.  The principles of smarter working would be supported by the emerging office accommodation and workspace strategy. 

The Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board presented the statement made by the Board following its meeting on 29 October 2020, which recorded the Board's support for the recommendations.  The Board's comments referred to team-working and informal office contacts; isolation and social contact; mitigation of the challenges of working from home; and good practice in other organisations.  

The following points were made during the discussion: -

• A number of policies and contracts would need to be revised, and the aim was for the first phase of the smarter working programme, which was a longer term project and separate to the safe working arrangements under the Covid-19 pandemic, to be in place from April 2021.
• The importance of the mental wellbeing of staff was emphasised, and the need for flexibility in the hybrid model to accommodate those staff who may prefer to work full time in the office.  
• The tax allowance for those working from home available from Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs would be communicated to all employees.
• Significant work had been undertaken and improvements would continue to be made to IT systems and connections for staff working from home. 

RESOLVED

(1)          That the Corporate Leadership Team's vision, goals and objectives for smarter working and the ongoing work to enable delivery of the project be noted; and

(2)          That the outcome of the smarter working staff survey be noted.