Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Cllr John Thomson who was substituted by Cllr Jonathon Seed.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held 18 December 2012. (copy

attached).

Resolved:

To confirm and sign as a correct record the minutes of the Committee meeting held on 18 December 2012, subject to recording the apologies of Cllr Jon Hubbard who was substituted by Cllr Chris Caswill.

To receive any declarations of disclosable interests or dispensations granted by the Standards Committee.

There were no declarations of interest.

There were no Chairman’s announcements.

The Council welcomes contributions from members of the public.

Statements

If you would like to make a statement at this meeting on any item on this agenda, please register to do so at least 10 minutes prior to the meeting. Up to 3 speakers are permitted to speak for up to 3 minutes each on any agenda item. Please contact the officer named above for any further clarification.

Questions

To receive any questions from members of the public or members of the Council received in accordance with the constitution. Those wishing to ask questions are required to give notice of any such questions in writing to the officer named above no later than 5pm on Friday 11 October 2013. Please contact the officer named on the first page of this agenda for further advice. Questions may be asked without notice if the Chairman decides that the matter is urgent.

Details of any questions received will be circulated to Committee members prior to the meeting and made available at the meeting and on the Council’s website.

There were no members of the public present or councillors’ questions.

A joint report by the Corporate Directors is attached.

The Committee received a joint report by the Corporate Directors in which it was stated that in Part II of the meeting candidates would be proposed for appointment to the following posts on the grounds of suitable alternative employment:-

a.         Associate Director, Highways & Transport

b.         Associate Director, Economic Development & Planning

c.         Associate Director, People & Business Services

d.         Associate Director (with CCG), Quality Assurance, Commissioning, Performance, Schools & Early Years Effectiveness

e.         Associate Director, Adult Care Commissioning, Safeguarding & Housing

f.          Associate Director, Legal & Governance and Monitoring Officer

g.         Associate Director, Communications, Community Area Boards, Libraries, Arts, Heritage & Culture

h.         Associate Director, Finance, Revenues & Benefits and Pensions

It was also noted that the Committee would also be asked to conduct a competitive selection process to appoint to the role of Associate Director, Environment & Leisure prior to appointing to that post.

Cllr Jon Hubbard referred to an instance where a Member experienced difficulties in receiving a response to an enquiry and wondered if the new expanded role of associate director might hinder the efficient response to Members’ enquiries.  During discussion it was acknowledged that Members might find it useful to receive some guidance on the level at which Members should consult with officers, it being acknowledged that very few enquiries, other than possibly those of a strategic nature, should be referred to a corporate or associate director.

Resolved:

To ask the officers to produce a protocolfor Members setting out some guidance on the correct level at which Members should seek advice from officers.          

Any other items of business, which, in the opinion of the Chairman, should be considered as a matter of urgency. Urgent items of a confidential nature may be considered under Part II of this agenda.

There were no items of urgent business.

To consider passing the following resolution:-

To agree that in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 to exclude the public from the meeting for the business specified in Item No. 9 because it is likely that if members of the public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 of Part I of Schedule 12A to the Act and the public interest in withholding the information outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information to the public.

Resolved:

To agree that in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 to exclude the public from the meeting for the business  specified in Minute No. 9 because it is likely that if members of the public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act and the public interest in withholding the information outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information to the public.

Confidential reports concerning appointments to the following posts are attached:-

i.          Associate Director – Highways & Transport

ii.          Associate Director – Economic Development & Planning

iii.          Associate Director – People & Business Services

iv.          Joint Associate Director (with CCG) – Quality Assurance, Commissioning, Performance, Schools & Early Years Effectiveness

v.          Associate Director – Adult Care Commissioning, Safeguarding & Housing

vi.          Associate Director – Legal & Governance and Monitoring Officer

vii.          Associate Director – Communications, Community Area Boards, Libraries, Arts, Heritage & Culture

The Committee will also receive confidential information concerning appointments to the posts of:-

Joint Associate Director, Finance, Revenues & Benefits and Pensions, and

Associate Director Environment & Leisure.

On considering confidential reports by the Corporate Directors,

Resolved:

To make appointments to the following posts with effect from 21 October 2013 on Grade HAY M3, £94,076 - £103,711 as set out below:-

a.         Associate Director, Highways & Transport – Mr Parvis Khansari.

b.         Associate Director, Economic Development & Planning – Mr Alistair Cunningham.

c.         Associate Director, People & Business Services – Mr Barry Pirie.

d.         Associate Director (with CCG), Quality Assurance, Commissioning, Performance, Schools & Early Years Effectiveness – Ms Julia Cramp.

e.         Associate Director, Adult Care Commissioning, Safeguarding & Housing – Mr James Cawley.

f.          Associate Director, Legal & Governance and Monitoring Officer – Mr Ian Gibbons.

g.         Associate Director, Communications, Community Area Boards, Libraries, Arts, Heritage & Culture – Mrs Laurie Bell.

h.         Associate Director, Finance, Revenues & Benefits and Pensions – Mr Michael Hudson.

At this point Cllr Nick Fogg left the meeting.

The Committee thereupon conducted a competitive selection process to appoint to the role of Associate Director, Environment & Leisure prior to appointing to that post. 

After discussion,

Resolved:

To appoint Ms Tracy Carter to the post of Associate Director, Environment & Leisure with effect from 21 October 2013 on Grade HAY M3, £94,076 - £103,711.