Issue - meetings

(1)               That the report be noted;

(2)               That support be given to the establishment of an ESV pilot scheme for the council, following consultation with staff, followed by an initial open forum with employees and other interested parties on the concept of volunteering to gauge the level of interest in the organisation;

(3)               That, in the event of a pilot being set up, a review of this pilot be supported in order to ascertain whether a permanent ESV scheme should be set up in the council; and

(4)               That the proposal from North Staffordshire Volunteer Centre (NSVC) be endorsed, this being designed to support the development of an ESV pilot for the Borough Council.

Councillor Williams, portfolio holder for Stronger and Active Neighbourhoods, introduced a report outlining opportunities the council had to promote and develop an Employer Supported Volunteering (ESV) scheme whilst recognising the opportunities the council already provided and supported.  The report set out a planned pilot to explore these opportunities in the first instance in order to ascertain whether an ESV scheme would be workable for the council and its staff.

Councillor Boden noted that many employees already did some voluntary work outside working hours and the Leader thanked the officers who had undertaken work on proposal.

The Chief Executive advised that the North Staffordshire Volunteer Centre had confirmed at a meeting earlier in the week that they would be able to mobilise quickly.

Resolved:

(1)               That the report be noted;

(2)               That support be given to the establishment of an ESV pilot scheme for the council, following consultation with staff, followed by an initial open forum with employees and other interested parties on the concept of volunteering to gauge the level of interest in the organisation;

(3)               That, in the event of a pilot being set up, a review of this pilot be supported in order to ascertain whether a permanent ESV scheme should be set up in the council; and

(4)               That the proposal from North Staffordshire Volunteer Centre (NSVC) be endorsed, this being designed to support the development of an ESV pilot for the Borough Council.