Agenda item

Questions were raised as follows –

(i)            Free influenza inoculations

A question was raised regarding whether the City Corporation should offer free influenza inoculations for all officers and Members as soon as practicably possible to reduce sickness absence levels and maximise officer/Member wellbeing.  A number of Members were supportive of the suggestion, although it was noted that muscular-skeletal symptoms were the primary cause of sickness absence. The Director of Human Resources went on to explain that the Open Spaces Department was currently piloting a free inoculation scheme for officers and a review of that exercise, including the procurement implications and corporate costs/benefits, could be used to inform a future report to the Committee in December.

RESOLVED – That a report setting out the implications of the introduction of a free influenza inoculation scheme for officers and Members be submitted to the Committee’s next meeting in December.   

(ii)          Corporate Job Evaluation

A query was raised regarding the grading of positions across the organisation and whether there was a consistent approach in terms of job evaluation on a cross-departmental basis.  The Director of Human Resources confirmed that all City Corporation posts were subject to a corporately managed job evaluation exercise which ensured that jobs were consistently graded on the basis of post-holder responsibilities and duties.  In the event that Market Force Supplements were paid in respect of like-for-like posts, these had to be justified on a case-by-case basis. On the basis that specific posts would be referenced, it was agreed that the discussion would continue in the non-public session of the meeting on the grounds that the information was likely to reveal the identify of an individual (Paragraph 2, Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972).

RESOLVED – That the discussion be noted and the matter deferred for further discussion at Item 15 of the agenda.