Agenda item

Report of the Chief Executive (forms to follow).

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Roger Mace)

The Chief Executive submitted a report to seek Cabinet’s approval to the filling of established vacancies where recommended. 

The options, options analysis, including risk assessment, were set out in the report as follows:

The information contained within each form provides details related to the risks of not filling the related vacancy. Cabinet has the option of releasing funding on either a time limited or permanent basis or withholding funding. If funding is not released, there will be an impact on Service provision. If funding is time limited, it will be more difficult and possibly more expensive to fill a post

The Officer preferred option was to fill those posts as recommended by Service Heads unless Cabinet identifies the work as being of a low priority.

It was moved by Councillor Mace and seconded by Councillor Charles:-

“That Cabinet notes the presumption that staffing vacancies are not filled, and resolves as follows:-

CL0358     Reject recommendation - delete post - i.e. accepting that this reduces service level  

CH0272    Partially accept proposal - raise to 3/4 post for current job share - review after 31 March 09

CH0040    Accept recommendation - reason: contract with County

CH0018    Recruit new 1/2 job share

CH0162    Temporary appointment, not exceeding term of contract with County

CH0092    Agree proposal

CH0056    Internal advert only / potential redeployment opportunity

CS0309    Temporary appointment, not exceeding duration of agreed external funding

New Post  Temporary appointment, not exceeding duration of agreed external funding

PL0032     Hold vacant for remainder of 08-9: i.e. accepting that this reduces service level - and review after 31 March 2009

RS0514    Accept recommendation - reason related cost saving

RS0192    Accept recommendation to defer for 3 months and review position then

RS0165    Accept recommendation - reason corporate service

RS0401    Accept recommendation - consider secondment possibilities to cover maternity leave

RS0005    Accept recommendation - potential workload for head of service”

By way of amendment, Councillor Barry proposed and Councillor Fletcher seconded:

“(1)      That all posts be filled except Post CL0358 to be held vacant until January 2009 and Post RS0192 to be deferred for three months and then reviewed

(2)               Cabinet identifies in January where priorities are in the establishment and where savings can be made”

On being put to the vote, 4 Members voted in favour (Councillors Barry, Blamire, Fletcher and Gilbert), 3 Members voted against (Councillors Charles, Kerr and Mace) and two members abstained (Councillors Archer and Burns) whereupon the Chairman declared the amendment to be carried.

Members then voted on the substantive motion as follows:-

Resolved:

4 Members (Councillors Barry, Blamire, Fletcher and Gilbert) voted in favour, 3 Members (Councillors Charles, Kerr and Mace) voted against and 2 members (Councillors Archer and Burns) abstained.

(1)               That all posts be filled except Post CL0358 to be held vacant until January 2009 and also Post RS0192 to be deferred for three months and the position reviewed then

(2)               Cabinet identifies in January where priorities are in the establishment and where savings can be made”

Officer responsible for effecting the decision:

Chief Executive

Reasons for making the decision:

The decision is in line with the decision made at Cabinet on 11^th November 2008, removing the delegated decision making to fill employee vacancies away from Service Heads to Cabinet.

At this point the press and public were re-admitted to the meeting.