Agenda and minutes

To receive declarations by Members of interests in respect of items on this Agenda. 

Members are reminded that, in accordance with the Localism Act 2011, they are required to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests which have not already been declared in the Council’s Register of Interests. (It is a criminal offence not to declare a disclosable pecuniary interest either in the Register or at the meeting). 

Whilst not a legal requirement, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 9 and in the interests of clarity and transparency, Members should declare any disclosable pecuniary interests which they have already declared in the Register, at this point in the meeting. 

In accordance with Part B Section 2 of the Code Of Conduct, Members are required to declare the existence and nature of any other interests as defined in paragraphs 8(1) or 9(2) of the Code of Conduct. 

There were no declarations of interest. 

The Chairman advised that he had agreed to 1 item of urgent business, which would be considered later in the meeting. 

The Committee is recommended to pass the following recommendation in relation to the following item(s):-

“That, in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act, 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item(s) of business, on the grounds that they could involve the possible disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1 and 2 of Schedule 12A of that Act.” 

Members are reminded that, whilst the following item(s) have been marked as exempt, it is for the Committee itself to decide whether or not to consider each of them in private or in public.  In making the decision, Members should consider the relevant paragraph of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, and also whether the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.  In considering their discretion Members should also be mindful of the advice of Council Officers. 

The nature of the deliberations relating to the appointment of a Section 151 Officer being confidential, it was moved by Councillor Margaret Pattison and seconded by Councillor Susan Sykes and agreed: -

“That press and public be excluded from the meeting.” 

Resolved:

That press and public be excluded from the meeting. 

The Committee adjourned at this point and convened as an informal Recruitment Panel to facilitate interview(s).  After interview(s) had been conducted, the Committee re-convened to consider and make an appointment to theposition of Section 151 Officer.  

A vote was taken to determine the preferred candidate. 

Resolved: -

That full Council be recommended to appoint Paul Thompson to the position of Section 151 Officer from 1^st March 2019. 

At this point the press and public were re-admitted to the meeting.  The Interim Financial Services Manager left the meeting. 

Report of the Chief Executive. 

The Chief Executive submitted a report that enabled the Committee to consider the objectives set for the Director, and Deputy Director for Communities and the Environment, for the period to 31^st March 2019. 

It was reported that on 30^th April 2018 the Committee had agreed to a new pay structure for the newly proposed Director posts, which subsequently formed part of the restructure proposals approved by full Council. 

That new pay structure had been agreed as follows: -

The pay scale for Directors would commence at £80,000 with potential progression up to a band maximum 10% higher than the minimum, and progression through the grade would be by increments of approximately 1% or 2%.  Progression would be dependent on post holders achieving objectives, which would be approved by Personnel Committee prior to the commencement of each reporting year, i.e. April to March.  It should be noted that progression for all other staff (i.e. those who are not on Chief Officer terms and conditions) are approximately 2% each year until the maximum is reached.

A similar arrangement would be put in place for Deputy Directors, albeit that the minimum of the grade for this role would be £65,000. 

All salaries and pay points for these roles would benefit from the annual cost of living increases agreed nationally for Chief Officers.

It was agreed that Personnel Committee would be involved in agreeing the annual objectives set for post holders and would ultimately decide on the pay progression for Directors at the end of each reporting year, subject to the achievement of objectives.

This formal process in relation to pay increases would start from the reporting year April 2019 to March 2020.  Objectives for the current year, to the end of March 2019, should be considered by Personnel Committee, even though there will be no impact on pay progression for this current year.

The role of Personnel Committee in considering these objectives was: -

·                To ensure the objectives meet the Council’s criteria for setting objectives.

§    That the objectives are appropriate for officers at this level of seniority, and

§    That the objectives given can be reviewed objectively at the end of the reporting period with a view to measuring successful achievements.

Members were informed that, in setting objectives for Directors, the Chief Executive had, so far, met individually with the Director for Communities and the Environment to jointly agree objectives, which meet those criteria outlined, and would also meet separately with the other two Directors once they were in post.  A similar process had taken place with the Deputy Director for Communities and the Environment, and the relevant Director as line manager.

Objectives set so far focused only on the period from now until the end of March 2019. These objectives, for both officers, had a clear focus on the work initially required to move two large directorates together into one directorate.  Meeting these objectives, or otherwise, would not affect pay for the individual post holders. 

Objectives set were  ...  view the full minutes text for item 61.

In accordance with S100B (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the Chairman requested that the Committee give consideration to an item of urgent business regarding the need to make a referral to the Chief Executive ad hoc Sub-Committee of Council constituted to consider the appointment of a Chief Executive.  The Chairman had accepted this as an item of urgent business as a decision on issues regarding the role would be required prior to the next meeting of the Committee. 

The HR Project Manager reported orally at the meeting regarding the need for this Committee to make a referral to the Chief Executive ad hoc Sub-Committee in relation to the items and approaches it wished the ad hoc Sub-Committee to consider.  The issues the Committee considered included: -

·                The length of appointment, e.g. fixed term or permanent;

·                The proportion of full-time for the appointment e.g. should it be a part-time post;

·                The nature of the appointment, e.g. a shared Chief Executive with another local authority.

The Committee considered, in more detail, interim arrangements, longer-term appointment options and considerations and timings.

After consideration, the Committee agreed as follow. 

Resolved: -

That the HR Project Manager be requested to circulate to Committee Members a draft referral report regarding the appointment to the Head of Paid Service (Chief Executive) role prior to the report being submitted for consideration at the earliest possible meeting of the Chief Executive ad hoc Sub-Committee appointed by full Council.