Issue - meetings

a)     Notice invoking the Call-In;

b)     Minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 18 September 2014;

c)      Report submitted to Cabinet on 18 September 2014.

The Sub-Committee received the papers in respect of the call-in notice submitted by 10 Members of Council in relation to the decision made by Cabinet on Outcome of Consultation on Options for the Council’s Senior Management Arrangements.

The Chair advised the Sub-Committee on the suggested order of proceedings and reminded Members of the timings allowed for submissions and questions.

A Member of the Sub-Committee expressed concern that a meeting of the Chief Officers Employment Panel had taken place before the Sub-Committee had met.  He commented that the meeting of the Chief Officers’ Employment Panel should have been put on hold until this meeting of the Sub-Committee had taken place.

The Chair invited the lead representative of the signatories, Councillor Barry Macleod-Cullinane, to present the reasons for the call-in of the decision to the Sub-Committee.

He stated that:

·                     the Council had to make a significant financial savings in the next couple of years.  By re-establishing the role of the Chief Executive this would add to the savings required;

·                     there had been an inadequate amount of consultation and this had only involved members of staff.  There had been no widening of the consultation to involve residents.  Additionally the time period over which the consultation had taken place was too short;

·                     in a poll conducted by a local newspaper, 66% of residents had indicated that the role of the Chief Executive should remain deleted;

·                     there had been no engagement with the Overview and Scrutiny Process on the new proposals;

·                     there was no independent evidence obtained to support the new proposals.  The only source of independent evidence from the Council’s auditors had not highlighted any issues with the Chief Executive role having been deleted;

·                     there was no specific evidence contained in the report to Cabinet which supported its decision;

·                     the Council had passed its Revenue Budget for the financial year.  This had included financial savings of up to £1.5 million as a result of the deletion of the role of the Chief Executive.  By re-instating the position this would be contrary to the Budget Framework;

·                     re-establishing the role of the Chief Executive was contrary to the Council’s adopted Pay Policy Statement;

·                     the Corporate Plan also referred to the Council achieving Value for Money.  Re-introducing the role of the Chief Executive would be contrary to this principle.

The Deputy Leader, on behalf of the Leader of the Council, responded by stating the following points:

·                     officers of the Council were entitled to commence making preparations for the decision made by Cabinet even if it had been called-in;

·                     there was no legal requirement for Cabinet to consult when it had considered the proposals which were subsequently agreed.  However an extensive consultation had taken place with all members of staff;

·                     the consultation with the staff had indicated a preference to re-instate the position of the Chief Executive;

·                     the role of the Chief Executive had been deleted on 22 February 2014 and the Financial Year ended on 31 March 2014.  This had meant that the Council’s auditors did not  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6

Report of the Divisional Director, Human Resources, Development and Shared Services.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)               the post of Chief Executive be re-instated in the Council’s management structure;

(2)               the Divisional Director Human Resources, Development and Shared Services, following consultation with the Leader of the Council, be instructed to make such arrangements as necessary to make a permanent appointment to the statutory role of Head of Paid Service.

Reason for Decision:  To put in place arrangements for making a permanent appointment to the statutory role of Head of Paid Service.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:  As set out in the report.