Agenda item

The Portfolio Holder for Corporate Governance, Finance and Resources to submit a report updating Cabinet on a new ‘hybrid’ operating model and ways of working and asking Cabinet to recommend to Council the approach, as set out in the Council’s new Way We Work Strategy and Action Plan, new Behaviour Framework and New Working Model.

Cabinet RECOMMENDED that Council:

1)    Adopt “The Way We Work: Our Strategy 2021 to 2024” and accompanying documents;

2)    Delegate authority to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to make changes to the Strategy to account for economic, organisational or environmental changes (particularly considering Covid-19).

Dawn Garton, Director for Corporate Services introduced the report, the purpose of which was to update Cabinet on a new ‘hybrid’ operating model and ways of working and ask Cabinet to recommend to Council the approach, as set out in the Council’s new Way We Work Strategy and Action Plan, new Behaviour Framework and New Working Model.

Mrs. Garton advised that like many organisations, as the Council had moved from Covid-19 response to recovery, it had considered its ways of working and had refreshed its Workforce Strategy, proposing a hybrid model for working, based on lessons learned from changes in working practices which were required as a consequence of the pandemic.

Mrs Garton highlighted that the report detailed how the Council would learn, develop and ensure it employed and retained staff with the appropriate skills and behaviours to deliver against its Corporate Strategy over the next 3 years.  The Action Plan detailed within Appendix A underpins the Way We Work Strategy, the Behaviour Framework (Appendix B) and Working Model (Appendix C) were being rolled out across the Council through engagement with staff.  The Strategy also linked with associated IT projects and work on asset management development to ensure Council assets were maximised.  This was an ambitious programme with the majority of the work being undertaken within existing resources.

Councillor Ronnie de Burle, Portfolio Holder for Corporate Governance, Finance and Resources commented that the pandemic had significantly impacted employers and employees.  The report sought to bring to fruition proposals for a new hybrid model of working (as previously discussed at Joint Staff Working Group).  When fully implemented, this model would place the Council at the forefront of modern ways of working, which benefit employers (i.e. more efficient use of assets) as well as employees.  There remained much associated work for HR, IT and Property teams over the next few years to support the hybrid model of working.  The Council had demonstrated that it fully embraced change and could adapt rapidly to changing circumstances.  This was an ambitious programme for teams and 1 which they were embracing.

During discussion the following points were noted:

·         Members welcomed the Council’s hybrid model for working, commenting that the Council had to ‘work in a new way’.

·         The focus on team working within the hybrid model was noted and assurance given that the model would be supportive of collaborative working across different services within the Council.

(DECISION: NON-KEY)

Cabinet RECOMMENDED that Council:

1)    Adopt “The Way We Work: Our Strategy 2021 to 2024” and accompanying documents;

2)    Delegate authority to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to make changes to the Strategy to account for economic, organisational or environmental changes (particularly considering Covid-19).

Reasons for the recommendations

The Way We Work – Our Strategy 2021 to 2024 is a refresh of the previous Workforce Strategy 2018 to 2020. It considers the current post pandemic environment, and the learning from the last 18 months and sets out four areas of priority for the next three years along with a detailed programme of work with anticipated time scales.

The strategy has been developed through engagement and in consultation with various groups of the workforce and has been discussed with Trades Unions through the Joint Staff Working Group. The strategy reflects the approach many other councils and organisations are taking in ensuring the workforce is agile and flexible, building on the learning from how people changed the way they worked through the pandemic.

The approach promotes a hybrid model of working which seeks to maximise productivity gains through home working, whilst recognising the value of team working within the Council’s office environment.