Agenda and minutes

Members are asked to declare any interests in the items under consideration and in doing so state:

(1) the type of interest concerned; and

(2) the nature of the interest concerned

If any member requires advice on declarations of interests, they are advised to contact the Head of Democratic Governance in advance of the meeting.

None.  

To agree the minutes of the last meeting held on 3 October 2016 as a true and correct record.

The Committee agreed that the minutes of the meeting held on 3 October 2016 be signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

To consider arrangements for agreeing the Council’s Pay Policy Statement.

Members were reminded that the Council was required to produce a pay policy statement, which had to be in place for the financial year 2017/ 2018 and had received full Council approval before the start of that financial year.

The report referred to areas, which the statement must set out relating to the Council’s policy on Chief Officer Remuneration, Remuneration of its lowest paid employees and the relationship between chief officer remuneration and that of other staff.  The guidance from the Department for Communities and Local Government had indicated that they expected the policy statement to cover other areas.

The draft pay policy statement had not yet been finalised and it was proposed that the Council Pay Policy Statement be submitted to the March Council meeting for approval.  It was noted that proposed changes by the Government to terms and conditions of public sector workers (e.g. public sector exit payments), which had not yet been clarified and could be part of the draft pay policy statement, if they are agreed prior to the March Council meeting.

The Committee agreed that the Pay Policy Statement be submitted direct to the Council meeting in March for consideration.

Resolved: That under Section 100 (A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the whole item, including the decisions referred to at Agenda item 5 on the grounds that it would involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

To interview the short listed applicant(s) for the post of Director of Children’s Services.

(This item contains personal information regarding the applicant, which is exempt from publication by virtue of Paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972)

The Committee considered the interview and assessment process for the soon to be vacant position of Director of Children’s Services .  There had been eight applicants, whom Gatenby Sanderson had long listed to seven candidates and subsequently following technical assessments, three candidates were invited for a formal interview.  The Chairman reported that after receiving references, preliminary interviews were undertaken by a Panel of Partners, which included some of the Committee Members and a Panel of Young People and Children from within the Looked After system.  The three candidates had also met the Council’s Corporate Leadership Team.

The Committee was informed that one candidate had subsequently withdrawn.

The Chairman reported that a sub group had, prior to the Committee meeting, interviewed in depth the two remaining candidates and had recommended that Mrs Diane Booth be put forward to the Committee, to be considered for the appointment.

Resolved: 

1)      That the Committee would wish to make an offer of appointment to the post to Mrs Diane Booth.

2)      Subject to 1) above, to agree that the Head of Organisation and Workforce Development, following consultation with the other Executive Members, in accordance with the Officer Employment Procedure Rules, finalise thearrangements for appointment.

Background papers: Exempt.