Agenda and minutes

To note under the provisions of the formula membership the attendance of any nominees.

RESOLVED:  To note the attendance at this meeting of the following duly appointed nominated Member:-

To receive declarations of disclosable pecuniary or non pecuniary interests, arising from business to be transacted at this meeting, from all Members present.

RESOLVED:  To note that there were no declarations of interests made by Members.

That the minutes of the meeting held on 30 March 2023 be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the meeting of the Chief Officers’ Employment Panel held on 30 March 2023 be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

Report of the Director of Human Resources and Organisational Development

Members considered a report which set out the process for the recruitment to the role of Head of Paid Service (Managing Director) as a matter of urgency for the reasons set out on the second supplemental agenda.

The officer outlined the content of the report which set out the proposal to change the role profile from Chief Executive (Head of Paid Service) to Head of Paid Service (Managing Director).  The Chair stated that it was challenging when a post holder left when new to a role and that stability and continuity was required hence the proposal to recruit internally in the short term.  If after six months the appointment proved to have been successful there was the option to extend the contract for a further 3 years to November 2026, until after the next Borough elections, when the Administration could consider the post again.

The Chair explained the rationale for the change in role title in that it was elected Councillors and the Executive that made the majority of decisions.  The Chief Executive or now proposed Managing Director would manage the organisation on a day to day basis.  The role profile was largely unchanged and could be reviewed in six months.  Whilst Members supported the proposal and expressed the need for stability it was also commented that as long as the role was carried out effectively the title was not important.

A Member questioned whether anything could be learned for the current postholder’s exit interview in terms of the role profile and it was confirmed that this had not yet been done.

In conclusion, the Chair expressed the view that providing the opportunity for promotion of staff from within the organisation would assist in providing some stability.  There were candidates within the organisation who already had knowledge of the Council which would be beneficial as opposed to recruiting an external candidate at this time.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)            the amendment of the current role profile of Chief Executive (Head of Paid Service) to Head of Paid Service (Managing Director) as set out in the Appendix to the report be approved;

(2)            the salary package and recruitment process for the post of the Head of Paid Service (Managing Director) with a salary package of £165,941 - £188,333 for an initial 6 month period with an option to extend on a fixed term basis for a further three years to November 2026 be approved;

(3)            the appointment of the successful candidate be recommended to Council on 18 May 2023, subject to there being no well-founded objections from members of the Executive;

(4)            a further meeting of the Panel be convened in Autumn 2023 to review the arrangements with a view to making a recommendation to Council in November 2023.

To resolve that the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business:

RESOLVED:  That in accordance with Part I of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item for the reasons set out below:

Upon interview of the short-listed candidates to consider making an appointment to the post of Director of Corporate Resources and Transformation

The Panel, having interviewed one candidate for the post of Director of Corporate Resources and Transformation

RESOLVED (unanimously):

That

(1)            Mr Alex Dewsnap, Acting Corporate Director of Resources, London Borough of Harrow, be appointed to the post of Director of Corporate Resources and Transformation, of the London Borough of Harrow, in accordance with the terms and conditions governing Chief Officer posts and subject to there being no ‘well founded objections’ by members of Cabinet;

(2)            the remuneration package for the above-mentioned post be £140,652 per annum.