Agenda and draft minutes

To receive as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 24^th February 2022. 

The minutes of the meeting held on 24^th February 2022 were agreed as a correct record. 

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. 

No declarations of interest were made. 

There were no items of urgent business. 

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

“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 of business, on the grounds that it could involve the possible disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 2 of Schedule 12A of that Act.” 

Members are reminded that, whilst the following item has been marked as exempt, it is for the Committee itself to decide whether or not to consider this item 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. 

It was moved by Councillor Erica Lewis, seconded by Councillor Andrew Gardiner and resolved as follows. 

Resolved:

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 of business on the grounds that it could involve the possible disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1 and 3 of Schedule 12A of that Act. 

To formulate a recommendation to Council regarding the appointment of a new Chief Executive. 

The Committee considered the appointment to the post of Chief Executive. 

The Chair commenced the meeting and welcomed all Committee members and repeated key themes.  When reading the part of the script regarding confidentiality some members disagreed and requested the advice of the Monitoring Officer and detailed guidance be sought on this, in particular what could and could not be discussed outside of the meeting, Members requested that this be dealt with as a matter of urgency. 

The Committee received:

1)    Feedback from the Staff Panel

2)    Feedback from the Stakeholder Panel

3)    Feedback from the Structured Leader Discussions

4)    Introductory Video

5)    Feedback from the Final Panel

6)    The Chair invited any further observation from the current Chief Executive

The meeting adjourned at 5.20pm and re-convened at 5.28pm. 

At this point the Leader and current Chief Executive left the meeting. 

Votes were taken to determine the preferred candidate. The result is recorded in a minute exempt from publication under Paragraphs 1 and 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

The Committee agreed that the name of the preferred candidate be made public at the Council meeting on 16^th March 2022, on condition that the candidate accepts the offer, and that, in the event that the first preference candidate declines the offer, the second preference candidate be approached and recommended to Council if they accept the offer, which would be subject to the usual pre-placement screening. 

Resolved:

(1)     That the name of the preferred candidate be made public at the Council meeting on 16^th March 2022, on condition that the candidate accepts the offer, which will be subject to the usual pre-placement screening. 

(2)     That, in the event that the first preference candidate declines the offer, the second preference candidate be approached and recommended to Council if they accept the offer, which would be subject to the usual pre-placement screening. 

(3)        Resolution (3) is recorded in a minute exempt from publication under Paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.