Issue - meetings

The Committee discussed the organisational development for JWS and the service improvement.

The Committee was updated regarding the transition period from Local Authority to JWS, including the web presence by September and imminent email addresses for staff. The Lead Officer and the JWS Director had met with staff individually and collectively to ensure that staff understood the direction of travel and that any issues were resolved.  The staff were very dedicated and the overall impression was that progress was already being made towards JWS officers feeling like one team.  Appraisals would be carried out and this would provide an opportunity for staff to comment on areas they feel could be improved, ultimately forming the basis of an improvement programme.

The structure attached to the report would be resent to Members to show the names of officers filling each post. There were a few gaps in the structure and interviews would be carried out soon. The contracts would be fixed term.

All key corporate advisors were still in place.

It was agreed that communications was a key area for JWS.

As each Authority had different ways of working with varying demographics, it was considered that an SLA should be developed between JWS and each authority. What JWS could do for the authorities and what authorities could do for JWS would be looked into in detail. The following three steps were discussed:

·        Identity baseline – compare each authority, how they carry out tasks and look at 16/17 budgets;

·        Agree mandate – consolidate position;

·        Develop strategy – vision and priorities, develop a shared action plan.

Members were advised that a detailed programme of activity was being created setting out timelines. Costs such as corporate overheads needed to be looked at and areas in which other costs fell, for example training. Some authorities held this budget in waste, others in corporate budgets. Projected budget figures would be brought to the next meeting.

The Chairman thanked the JWS Director for his report.

Resolved that:

·        the report be noted;

·        the JWS structure including names of officers be emailed to Members; and

·        budget figures be brought to the next committee meeting.