Agenda and minutes

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

Councillors 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, Councillors 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, Councillors 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. 

There were no items of urgent business. 

Report of Director of Corporate Services. 

Report published on 23 March 2022. 

The Director of Corporate Services submitted a report to enable the Committee to make a temporary appointment to the role of Director for Communities and Environment. 

It was reported that appointments to the role of Director for Communities and the Environment required the agreement of Personnel Committee.  The role of Director for Communities and the Environment would become vacant on 1^st April 2022 as the existing Director for Communities and the Environment Mark Davies would take up his appointment to the role of Chief Executive.

Members were informed that, with the role becoming vacant, there was an opportunity for the new Chief Executive to consider the best design and role arrangements for the Executive and Leadership Team moving forwards, in conjunction with Personnel Committee and other key Stakeholders. 

An invitation for Expressions of Interest for the role was made to all staff. A broadly gender balanced Panel comprising the Director for Corporate Services, existing Director for Communities and the Environment, a HR representative and invitees from the Personnel Committee had conducted interviews. 

            The term of the role of 3 months had been proposed by the Executive Management Team as the right amount of time to enable further engagement and a more considered decision to be made on the longer-term future of the role.

It was noted that the Panel had completedits deliberations on 25^th March 2022.  The Committee was informed that only one candidate’s submission had met the criteria to be interviewed and following the usual procedural checks the Director of Corporate Services orally reported the Interview Panel’s recommendation that Suzanne Lodge, the current Deputy Director for Communities and the Environment, be appointed as interim Director for Communities and the Environment on the basis set out in the report.  The appointment to be for a period of 3 months with an anticipated commencement date of 1^st April 2022, or when a contract amendment form had been completed and signed. 

It was proposed by Councillor Oliver Robinson and seconded by Councillor Mel Guilding:-

“That Suzanne Lodge, the current Deputy Director for Communities and the Environment, be appointed as interim Director for Communities and the Environment for a period of 3 months with an anticipated commencement date of 1^st April 2022.” 

A vote was taken on the proposition, which was carried unanimously. 

Resolved:

That Suzanne Lodge, the current Deputy Director for Communities and the Environment, be appointed as interim Director for Communities and the Environment for a period of 3 months with an anticipated commencement date of 1^st April 2022.