Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

In accordance with the revised local Code of Conduct, a councillor is required to disclose at the meeting any disclosable pecuniary interest (DPI) that they may have in respect of any matter for consideration on this agenda.  Any councillor with a DPI must notparticipate in any discussion or vote regarding that matter and they must also withdraw from the meeting immediately before consideration of the matter.

If that DPI has not been registered, the councillor must notify the Monitoring Officer of the details of the DPI within 28 days of the date of the meeting.

There were no disclosures of interest,

To confirm the minutes of the meeting of the Employment Committee held on 18 December 2015.

The Committee approved the minutes of the meeting held on 18 December 2015.  The chairman signed the minutes.

The Committee is asked to consider passing the following resolution:-

"That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act indicated below".

The Committee

RESOLVED:  That, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act.

The Committee considered an update report from the Managing Director and Head of Paid Service on the recruitment and selection arrangements carried out to date for the post of Director of Development.

Councillors were reminded that, following the departure of Chris Mansfield, Neil Taylor had been appointed as Interim Director of Development in September 2015 through an employment agency, Gatenby Sanderson. At the end of last year, the Council carried out a recruitment campaign and selection process using an executive search service, SmartSearch, to recruit a permanent Director of Development. The process had been very positive and a good range and calibre of candidates were sourced.

However, no appointment was made as the candidates did not have the full range of competencies that the Council was seeking.  In order to provide time to consider options, Mr Taylor’s contract was extended until 13 May 2016.

The Committee was informed that, this year, a number of Executive Search providers were asked to review the Council’s remuneration package and the breadth of the role to ensure that the Council was offering a competitive and attractive opportunity in the current market. The responses received and the further discussions held made it clear that the current remuneration package including lease car allowance, plus Relocation Assistance, was a little low in the current market and recruitment would prove challenging at this level. In addition, the market for Development roles had seen a huge expansion this year within the private sector offering significant salary packages. In order to make an appointment of a high calibre candidate, the Council would need to review its benefits package.

In light of this, the Managing Director had suggested offering Mr Taylor a contract, in his current role of Interim Director of Development until 31March 2017. A fee had been negotiated with Gatenby Sanderson to enable the Council to appoint Mr Taylor directly as a contractor covering the Director of Development role.

Having considered the proposal, and noted the financial implications for the Council, the Committee

RESOLVED: That the temporary appointment of Neil Taylor as the Interim Director of Development for a period until 31 March 2017, be approved.

Reason for Decision:

To ensure that the Council has this important role filled during the next year.