Agenda item

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, the Committee

RECOMMEND:

(1)  That the Council agrees, subject to the completion of the agreement referred to in Minute No. EM17 above,

(a)   the following temporary arrangements and appointments be made in the interim, pending the appointment of a new Managing Director/Head of Paid Service:

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

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

(iii)  the Legal Services Manager (Sandra Herbert) be appointed as the Council’s Monitoring Officer in accordance with Section 5 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.

(b)   the Managing Director be appointed as the Council’sElectoral Registration Officer in accordance with Section 8(2)(a) of the Representation of the People Act 1983 and Returning Officer for election of borough and parish councillors, in accordance with Section 35(1) of the 1983 Act.

(2)     That the Council confirms the appointment of the Electoral Services Manager (Elaine Bradbrook) as Deputy Electoral Registration Officer.

(3)     That, with effect from 1 November 2016, James Whiteman be appointed to the role of Deputy Managing Director on an interim basis pending the appointment of a new Managing Director/Head of Paid Services, and that he be placed on the current Deputy Managing Director’s salary scale of £101,808 p.a. for that period.

(4)     That the proposed salary scale for the Managing Director/Head of Paid Service post be amended as follows:

·        £120,877

·        £123,712

·        £126,616

(5)     That, upon the retirement of Sue Sturgeon, the Head of Financial Services (Claire Morris) be appointed as the Council’s Section 151 Officer (Chief Finance Officer).

(6)     That the current Pay Policy Statement be amended to reflect the changes referred to in paragraphs (1) – (4) above, as appropriate.

(7)     That the Monitoring Officer be authorised, in consultation with the Lead Councillor for Infrastructure and Governance, to make all necessary constitutional amendments.

Reason for Recommendation:

To deal with the consequential arrangements following completion of the agreement referred to in Minute No. EM17 above.