Issue - meetings

(i)       to approve the updated Family Leave Policy, with an implementation date of 1 April 2026 to allow for necessary training to be arranged, communications to be undertaken and other administrative arrangements to be completed;

(ii)       to note the accompanying guidance documents to the Family Leave Policy which provided employees and managers with relevant information on the range of family leave options, including details on the available provisions, eligibility criteria, application requirements and support options; and

(iii)      to approve the updated Special Leave Policy, amended to account for changes to the Family Leave Policy and in response to the requirements of the Council’s gold accreditation of the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme, and instruct the Chief Officer - People and Citizen Services to bring a report to a future meeting of the Committee reviewing the Special Leave Policy (including the Guidance for Situations of Adverse Weather) and the expectations of staff.

The Committee had before it a report by the Executive Director – Corporate Services which sought approval for a revised Family Leave Policy as well as amendments to the Special Leave Policy.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)      approve the updated Family Leave Policy, with an implementation date of 1 April 2026 to allow for necessary training to be arranged, communications to be undertaken and other administrative arrangements to be completed;

(b)      note the accompanying guidance documents to the Family Leave Policy which provided employees and managers with relevant information on the range of family leave options, including details on the available provisions, eligibility criteria, application requirements and support options; and

(c)      approve the updated Special Leave Policy, amended to account for changes to the Family Leave Policy and in response to the requirements of the Council’s gold accreditation of the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       to approve recommendations (a) and (b); and

(iii)      to approve the updated Special Leave Policy, amended to account for changes to the Family Leave Policy and in response to the requirements of the Council’s gold accreditation of the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme, and instruct the Chief Officer - People and Citizen Services to bring a report to a future meeting of the Committee reviewing the Special Leave Policy (including the Guidance for Situations of Adverse Weather) and the expectations of staff.

-      COUNCILLOR NEIL COPLAND, Convener