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 6 October 2016.

The minutes of the meeting of the Employment Committee held on 6 October 2016 were confirmed.  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 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 the paragraphs 1, 4, and 5 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 paragraphs 1, 4, and 5 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act.

The Committee considered a report setting out arrangements for the departure from the Council, by mutual agreement, of the officer the subject of the report. The Managing Director had provisionally reached a settlement agreement with the officer, the heads of terms of which were appended to the report submitted to the Committee. 

The Committee noted that the proposal was, in the opinion of the Managing Director/Head of Paid Service, Chief Internal Auditor and the Council’s external auditor, a reasonable settlement and in the best interests of the Council.

Having noted the estimated cost to the Council of reaching agreement in this regard, the Committee

RECOMMEND:

(1)     That the Council approves the heads of terms and financial settlement with the officer the subject of the report submitted to the Committee (Post No. 1.016) in connection with their departure from the Council, as set out in that report and in Appendix 1 thereto.

(2)     That the Managing Director be authorised:

  (a)   to agree minor changes to the settlement agreement in consultation with the Chairman of the Employment Committee; and

  (b)   to sign the agreement on behalf of the Council.

Reason for Recommendation:

To facilitate the departure of the officer from the Council.

(Following consideration of this item the Committee considered the next item in open session.)

The Committee considered a report on interim arrangements consequential on the completion of the agreement referred to in Minute No. EM17 above, together with a small number of changes required following the Council’s decision on 6 October 2016 to confirm Sue Sturgeon’s retirement date and the process and timetable for the appointment of her successor as Managing Director.

These arrangements would ensure that the Council’s Corporate Management Team retained the necessary flexibility, whilst maintaining momentum on the Council’s ambitious change agenda.

Upon completion of the agreement, it was proposed, pending the appointment of a new Managing Director/Head of Paid Service, to reallocate line management responsibilities as follows:

(a)   Legal Services, Democratic Services, Electoral Services and Human Resources teams be line-managed by the Director of Resources;

(b)   Communications and Policy & Partnerships teams be line-managed by the Managing Director/Head of Paid Service

The Committee also considered proposed interim appointments in respect of the Monitoring Officer and Deputy Managing Director roles and the proposed permanent appointment of Returning Officer (RO) for the election of borough and parish councillors, and Electoral Registration Officer (ERO). 

It was proposed that Sandra Herbert, the Council’s Legal Services Manager and currently a Deputy Monitoring Officer, be appointed as the Council’s Monitoring Officer.

It was envisaged that the principal role of Deputy Managing Director would be to support the Managing Director in delivering on key targets for her remaining employment as well as being engaged in a handover process with the new Managing Director. The Committee considered a number of options as to how best to fill the role of Deputy Managing Director on an interim basis. 

The Managing Director informed the Committee that Philip O’Dwyer, Steve White and Tracey Coleman had all confirmed, in writing, that they would support the appointment of James Whiteman as Deputy Managing Director on an interim basis pending the appointment of a new Managing Director/Head of Paid Service.

Given that it was the usual practice in most councils for the Chief Executive/ Managing Director to hold the roles of RO and ERO, it was proposed to revert to that arrangement by appointing the Managing Director to these roles.  This would mean that the Council could include this role in the job description for the new Managing Director/Head of Paid Service.

The Committee was also asked to consider the introduction of a progressive salary scale for the Managing Director/Head of Paid Service post, based on three salary points up to the current maximum of £126,616, details of which would be included in the job advertisement for the post. This would enable the Council to provide opportunity for a degree of pay progression for the successful candidate.

The Committee also considered the future of the Section 151, Chief Finance Officer role, which was currently held by Sue Sturgeon.  It was suggested that, following the her retirement on 31 May 2017, Claire Morris the Head of Financial Services should assume responsibility for that role.

Having noted the financial implications of the proposals before them,  ...  view the full minutes text for item EM18