Issue - meetings

The Council was informed that the Resources Specialist Services Manager (formerly the Council Solicitor and Monitoring Officer), Robert Parkin, had left the Council on 20 March 2020 to take up an appointment elsewhere. 

The Director of Resources had undertaken and implemented a restructure of the legal specialist team which had been agreed with the Corporate Management Team, details of which were set out in the Order Paper circulated to all councillors prior to the meeting. 

Councillors noted that Section 5 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 required the Council to designate one of its officers as monitoring officer. Under the restructure, the Council needed to put in place an arrangement that was flexible and provided a development opportunity for the two Senior Specialists – Legal (Sarah White and Diane Owens) both of whom were highly performing and suitably qualified members of staff. 

At its meeting on 6 March 2020, the Employment Committee had supported the recommendation that Sarah White (Senior Specialist Legal – (Lawyer - Planning, Regeneration & Litigation)) be designated as the Monitoring Officer for the Council with effect from her return to work in May 2020 on a part-time basis following maternity leave.  Diane Owens, who had been acting monitoring officer following Mr Parkin’s departure would be the principal Deputy Monitoring Officer in Sarah White’s absence.

Upon the motion of the Leader of the Council, Councillor Caroline Reeves, seconded by Councillor Jan Harwood, the Council

RESOLVED: That Sarah White (Senior Specialist - Legal (Lawyer - Planning, Regeneration & Litigation)) be designated as the Monitoring Officer for the Council with effect from her return to work following maternity leave in May 2020.

Reason:

To comply with the requirements of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 (as amended).

The Committee was informed that the Resources Specialist Services Manager (formerly the Council Solicitor and Monitoring Officer), Robert Parkin, would be leaving the Council on 20 March 2020 to take up an appointment elsewhere. 

Consideration of the recruitment of a new Resources Specialist Services Manager would be given following a review of the structure of the legal team.  In the meantime, it would be necessary to designate an officer as the Council’s Monitoring Officer. In accordance with Officer Employment Procedure Rule 4 (a) and this Committee’s terms of reference, the formal designation of the Monitoring Officer was undertaken by full Council on the recommendation of the Committee.

Having considered a report on the proposed arrangements to be put in place following Mr Parkin’s departure, the Committee

RECOMMEND:

(1)   That Sarah White (Senior Specialist Legal – (Lawyer - Planning, Regeneration & Litigation)) be designated as the Monitoring Officer for the Council with effect from her return to work following maternity leave in May 2020.

(2)   That, in the interim period and for the working days when the Monitoring Officer is not in attendance, the current Deputy Monitoring Officer, Diane Owens (Senior Specialist - Legal (Lawyer - Corporate, Commercial & Property)) be designated as Acting Monitoring Officer.

Reason:

To comply with the requirements of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 (as amended).