Issue - meetings

To present a package of options to recruit and develop the council’s trainee workforce.

This report was considered by the Scrutiny Commission on 10 July and the Ethical Governance and Personnel Committee on 12 July. Extracts from the minutes of those meetings are appended to the report.

Members were presented with a package of options to recruit and develop the council’s trainee workforce. Comments from the Scrutiny Commission and Ethical Governance and Personnel Committee were noted and it was moved by Councillor Ladkin and seconded by Councillor Hall that the report be supported with an amendment to the term “internships” to “paid internships”. Upon being put to the vote, the motion was CARRIED and it was

RESOLVED –

(i)            The positive work achieved to date be noted;

(ii)           The implementation of a corporate trainee scheme offering a mix of placements covering both paid internships and apprenticeships be approved;

(iii)          Corporate funding to offer two paid internships for a two-year period, based upon the national minimum wage, targeting professional posts at graduate level, be approved;

(iv)         Corporate funding to offer two apprentices for a two-year period focussing upon all posts within the council from administrational / manual level up to technical level be approved;

(v)          Middle managers, following consultation with HR, be required to bid from the corporate fund based upon a business case, be approved;

(vi)         The recruitment and induction process and outgoing contract be managed by HR.

To present options to recruit and develop the council’s trainee workforce.

A package of options to recruit and develop the council’s trainee workforce was presented to members. The committee was informed that it had been suggested at the Scrutiny Commission meeting that the word ‘internships’ had negative connotations and that consideration should be given to using an alternative word. Some members of the Ethical Governance & Personnel Committee agreed that an alternative word should be sought, and it was also suggested that the term ‘paid internships’ could be used instead.

The opportunity for people with a disability to apply for an apprenticeship, as with any other role in the authority, was discussed and encouraged.

It was moved by Councillor Hall, seconded by Councillor Morrell and

RESOLVED – the abovementioned suggestions for alternative wording be put to the Executive and the report be welcomed.

To present options to recruit and develop the council’s trainee workforce.

The Scrutiny Commission received a report on opportunities and options to recruit and develop the council’s trainee workforce. Whilst generally in support, a member suggested that the use of the word ‘internship’ may have negative connotations and asked that consideration be given to amending the use of the word to reflect that it related to work place experience. Officers emphasised that the intention was to provide a mix of options, including professional apprenticeships and traineeships.

RESOLVED – the report be supported, subject to consideration of amended wording.