Issue - meetings

People and Culture Strategy

Meeting: 04/09/2025 - Cabinet (Item 130)

Webcast for 04/09/2025 - Cabinet

130 People and Culture Strategy PDF 523 KB

Purpose

To approve the People & Culture Strategy attached at Annex A and accompanying year 1 implementation plan at Annex B.

Recommendation(s)

1. That Cabinet resolves to:

Approve the People & Culture Strategy as detailed in Annex A

Approve the four core workforce values:

We put our communities first: their priorities are our priorities
We are one team: working for our residents and businesses
We are business focussed: ensuring efficiency, effectiveness and good value for money
We are set up for success: to deliver against our corporate priorities

Approve the year 1 implementation plan as detailed in Annex B (September 2025 – August 2026)
Note the Internal Communications & Engagement Strategy as detailed in Annex C

Additional documents:

Decision:

The purpose of the reports was to seek Cabinet’s approval of the People & Culture Strategy (Annex A) and the accompanying Year 1 implementation plan (Annex B).

Councillor Mike Evemy. Leader of the Council, introduced the report.

The recommendations were proposed by Councillor Mike Evemy and seconded by Councillor Andrea Pellegram.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

1. Approved the People & Culture Strategy as detailed in Annex A

2. Approved the four core workforce values:

a. We put our communities first:

b. We are one team: working for our residents and businesses

c. We are business focussed: ensuring efficiency, effectiveness and good value for money

d. We are set up for success: to deliver against our corporate priorities

3. Approved the year 1 implementation plan as detailed in Annex B (September 2025 – August 2026)

4. Noted the Internal Communications & Engagement Strategy as detailed in Annex C

Voting Record:

8 For, 0 Against, 0 Abstentions.

Minutes:

The purpose of the reports was to seek Cabinet’s approval of the People & Culture Strategy (Annex A) and the accompanying Year 1 implementation plan (Annex B).

Councillor Mike Evemy. Leader of the Council, introduced the

People and Culture Strategy 2025–28 report, which had been developed following the first phase of staff returning from Publica in November 2024. The strategy groundwork had been carried out by Innovation Central, aimed to align and develop the workforce alongside organisational priorities, establish workforce values, and provide a behavioural framework to support positive and productive work environments. Staff engagement and consultation had informed the strategy and its associated year one implementation plan. Now, additional consideration was also being given to forthcoming Local Government Reorganisation.

The strategy incorporated four core workforce values which were also key to the Corporate Plan:

putting communities first,
working as one team,
being business-focused, and
being set up for success to deliver corporate priorities.

The internal communications and engagement strategy was also noted as being an important part of the strategy..

Members raised the following points:

The importance of supporting and retaining staff during the period of uncertainty and ensuring high performance and accountability.
The creation of psychological safety to maintain engagement and motivation.
Recognition of the Council’s menopause policy and the promotion of staff wellbeing initiatives.
The success of recent local job fairs and the importance of inclusive recruitment criteria.
Positive changes in workplace culture, with emphasis on collaboration, staff value, and resilience.
Consideration of KPIs and objectives to monitor progress, and potential for sharing aspects of the strategy with other councils.
The role of internal communications in supporting the strategy and engagement across the workforce.

Cabinet welcomed the strategy, noting its timeliness and importance in preparing the workforce for future organisational changes.