Agenda item - Staff Disabilities - Scrutiny Review Panel Report

Report of the Strategic Director for Resources (copy attached).

54.1         Councillor Watkins introduced the report and thanked all those involved in the review process.  He noted that it had been an unusual review in so much as it involved a member of staff and had enabled panel members to get an insight into how disabled staff felt and how their working environment could be improved.  He welcomed the acceptance of the recommendations by the Cabinet and wished to thank the Leader for nominating him as the Council’s champion for staff disabilities.

54.2         Councillor Elgood wished to thank the review panel for their work, which had resulted from a scrutiny request submitted by him.  He fully supported the recommendations and welcomed the approach taken by the Leader and the Cabinet.  He also noted that at the recent Overview & Scrutiny Commission, the monitoring report on diversity data had not included details around disability and hoped this would be addressed for future reports.

54.3         Councillor Harmer-Strange stated that he had found it to be an excellent scrutiny review and wished to add his thanks to the panel members and staff who had supported the review.  He believed as the city’s largest employer there was a need for the council to lead by example and so welcomed the acceptance of the recommendations by the Cabinet.

54.4         Councillor McCaffery welcomed the report and supported Councillor Elgood’s request for monitoring information to be made available to the Overview & Scrutiny Commission.

54.5         Councillor Mears welcomed the report and stated that she was happy to confirm that future monitoring reports would include such data.  She was also pleased that Councillor Watkins had agreed to be the Council’s Champion for Staff Disabilities.

54.6         Councillor Watkins stated that he was proud of this particular scrutiny review and especially grateful for the opportunity to meet with witnesses on a 1 to 1 basis, as this had proved to be very helpful to the panel members.

54.7         The Mayor noted that the report had been moved and asked that the recommendation be agreed.

54.8         RESOLVED: That the report be noted.