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 10 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.

To consider the report of the Chief Executive.

The Committee considered a report of the Chief Executive to enable Members to agree a job description and person specification for the post of Chief Executive.

The HR and OD Manager circulated a draft job description and person specification for Members to comment on. The drafts had been drawn up by Keith Power, Director of Workforce and Employment at North West Employers, based on the information gathered at the first meeting of the Committee. Mr Power was in attendance at the meeting to provide advice to Members.

The Committee considered the draft job description and no comments were raised. Members then turned their attention to the draft Person Specification (PS) and felt very strongly that the PS should not discourage individuals who did not come from a local government background from applying for the post. To reflect this, two references to ‘public’ service(s) in the draft were amended to ‘services’ and ‘extensive understanding of the environment of local government’ was amended to ‘clear understanding…’ Each line of the PS was then looked at and it was decided that each attribute should be classed as ‘essential’ not merely ‘desirable’.

Other amendments agreed were:-

·        To amend ‘improve the quality of life within a locality’ to ‘deliver corporate priorities’.

·        To amend ‘delivery of complex services’ to ‘the efficient and effective delivery of complex services’

·        To amend ‘local and sub- regional partners, government departments, voluntary, community and commercial interests’ to ‘local communities, and local and sub- regional partners, government departments, voluntary, community and commercial interests’

·        To change ‘one or more’ in the qualifications and knowledge section to a bold typeface

·        To add ‘or equivalent’ to the qualifications required.

Resolved:

That the draft Job Description and Person Specification, as amended, be approved.

(The approved documents are appended).

To consider the report of the Chief Executive.

The Committee considered various remuneration options for the post of Chief Executive, including a spot salary and a salary band, and how a salary band might operate in practice. A summary of Chief Executive pay rates for the North West was provided to Members for information.

Members also considered the issue of Returning Officer fees. It was noted that, whilst it would be possible to combine Returning Officer fees for City and Parish Council elections into the salary for the Chief Executive’s post, it would not be possible to combine fees for other elections, which were personal payments by the Cabinet Office or other bodies to the Returning Officer for his or her services.

After a lengthy debate, Councillor Metcalfe proposed, seconded by Councillor Clifford:

“That the annual salary for the post of Chief Executive be £107,000, exclusive of Returning Officer fees.”

The Chairman clarified that this proposal meant exclusive of all Returning Officer fees, including those for City and Parish Council elections.

Resolved:

That the annual salary for the post of Chief Executive be £107,000, exclusive of Returning Officer fees.

To consider the report of the Chief Executive.

The HR and OD Manager presented the revised work programme to the Committee.

The ‘partner panel’ was discussed and Members agreed that they would like the HR & OD Manager to provide options for the Committee for involving partners in the selection process, including an option suggested by Members of allowing partners to attend the reception/meal at Lancaster Town Hall, week commencing 21 March 2015, to allow partners to mingle with the applicants in an informal setting.

Resolved:

That the HR and OD Manager provide options to the Committee for involving partners in the selection process, including the option of partners mingling with applicants at the reception/meal.