Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor J Philip.

(Chief Executive) To declare interests in any item on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest made for this meeting.

(Assistant to the Chief Executive)  To report the appointment of any substitute members for the meeting.

The Committee noted that no substitute members had been notified for this meeting.

To note the following terms of reference for this Committee as agreed by the Council at its meeting on 30.7.10 (Minute 61):

“(a) to consider, in consultation with the Council’s Recruitment Consultants, the person specification, job description and associated matters relating to the recruitment and appointment of the Council’s Chief Executive (Head of Paid Service);

(b) to consider arrangements of advertising the vacancy;

(c) to consider the arrangements for interviewing, assessment and appointment to the Chief Executive position;

(d) to report back to full Council on progress on 28 September 2010;

(e) to report back subsequently to full Council with a recommendation on the person to be appointed to the position of Chief Executive;

(f) to consider alternative means by which the duties of the Chief Executive may be conducted; and

(g) to consider the remuneration appropriate to the role recommended by the Appointment Committee.”

The Committee noted the Terms of Reference for this Committee as set out on the agenda which reflected decisions made by the Council at its January 2012 meeting.

To confirm the minutes of the last meeting of the Committee (attached).

            RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 18 May 2012 be taken as read and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

No further meetings of the Committee are scheduled or planned, subject to the outcome of this meeting.

The Committee noted that, subject to the discussions at this meeting, no further meetings of this Committee were planned.

Exclusion: To consider whether, under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press should be excluded from the meeting for the items of business set out below on grounds that they will involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the following paragraph(s) of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act (as amended) or are confidential under Section 100(A)(2):

The Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006, which came into effect on 1 March 2006, requires the Council to consider whether maintaining the exemption listed above outweighs the potential public interest in disclosing the information. Any member who considers that this test should be applied to any currently exempted matter on this agenda should contact the proper officer at least 24 hours prior to the meeting.

Confidential Items Commencement: Paragraph 9 of the Council Procedure Rules contained in the Constitution require:

(1)        All business of the Council requiring to be transacted in the presence of the press and public to be completed by 10.00 p.m. at the latest.

(2)        At the time appointed under (1) above, the Chairman shall permit the completion of debate on any item still under consideration, and at his or her discretion, any other remaining business whereupon the Council shall proceed to exclude the public and press.

(3)        Any public business remaining to be dealt with shall be deferred until after the completion of the private part of the meeting, including items submitted for report rather than decision.

Background Papers:  Paragraph 8 of the Access to Information Procedure Rules of the Constitution define background papers as being documents relating to the subject matter of the report which in the Proper Officer's opinion:

(a)        disclose any facts or matters on which the report or an important part of the report is based;  and

(b)        have been relied on to a material extent in preparing the report and does not include published works or those which disclose exempt or confidential information (as defined in Rule 10) and in respect of executive reports, the advice of any political advisor.

Inspection of background papers may be arranged by contacting the officer responsible for the item.

RESOLVED:

That the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the items of business set out below on the grounds that they would involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972:

Agenda                                                                                   Exempt Information

Item No           Subject                                                           Paragraph Number

8                      Recruitment of a Chief Executive –                1 and 2

                        Review of Assessment Centre.

The Committee is asked to review the assessment process and decide on a preferred candidate for recommendation to the Council meeting on 18 June 2012.

The Committee is also asked to confirm any other matters relating to the proposed appointment for recommendation to the Council including:

(a) salary;

(b) contract of employment, performance management and termination arrangements and taking account of the recent Overview & Scrutiny Committee review and any specific requests from the preferred applicant;

(c) commencement date; and

(d) any other relevant matters.

The Committee reviewed the assessment process which had taken place on Thursday 7 June and earlier on the day of the meeting with a view to deciding on a preferred candidate for recommendation to the Council meeting on 18 June 2012.

Overview and Scrutiny Review Report

The Committee also reviewed the proposals in the Overview and Scrutiny Committee recommendations to the Council which were adopted in 2011 in respect of such senior appointments.  This review encompassed:

(a)        an evaluation report to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on the recruitment of a Chief Executive once the process had reached a conclusion;

(b)        a review of Officer Employment Procedure Rules in the Constitution taking account of recent counsel’s advice;

(c)        inclusion within the Constitution of the procedure for notifying and receiving objections to any proposed appointment of Chief Executive from members of the Cabinet;

(d)        the provision within the Contract of Employment of clear and measurable performance management and supervision measures for the postholder;

(e)        The need for training for those undertaking the performance management and supervisory role;

(f)         procedures for dealing with employment issues short of a dispute situation;

(g)        review of the Overview and Scrutiny proposals after one year.

The Committee concluded that all measures proposed in the Overview and Scrutiny Committee report had been addressed and that, on the question of performance management and supervision, personal development review arrangements in respect of the Chief Executive position would apply as with all other members of staff and that, in addition, there should be regular progress meetings between the postholder and the Leader of Council to review personal objectives to be set for the Chief Executive once he was in post.

Contract of Employment

The Committee asked that the Contract of Employment for the Chief Executive should, with any necessary variations due to the special nature of the post, conform closely to the standard Contract of Employment for all staff.  On questions of performance management and supervision and dealing with employment issues short of disputes, regard would be taken of best practice in other authorities and also to the national Chief Executive’s handbook.

Preferred Candidate

The Committee reviewed the five shortlisted applicants for the position of Chief Executive and recorded that one candidate had left the process at the end of the Recruitment Centre Sessions on 7 June 2012.  The Committee then reviewed the remaining four candidates and resolved to make a provisional offer of the post to Mr Glen Chip at a salary of £112,000 per annum.  The salary figure was to include attendance at evening meetings for which a separate allowance would be otherwise be payable.  The Committee noted the position regarding terms and conditions of employment relating to car allowances where an essential car user would apply and to car leasing which, although entitlement to a lease car applied, was subject to a review by the Council and currently suspended.

The Assistant Head (Human Resources) was asked to draft a provisional Contract of Employment for consideration by the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.