Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED:  That Committee Procedure Rule 26.1 be suspended to enable the recording or photographing or broadcasting of any part of the meeting.

To note under the provisions of the formula membership the attendance of the following nominee:

FOR INFORMATION

RESOLVED:  That the attendance of Nominee Members at this meeting, further to the formula membership of the Panel, be noted as follows:-

In the absence of the Chairman, it is necessary to appoint a Chairman for this meeting.

RESOLVED: That Councillor Keith Ferry be appointed Chairman of the Panel for the meeting.

To receive declarations of disclosable pecuniary or non pecuniary interests, arising from business to be transacted at this meeting, from:

(a)               all Members of the Panel;

(b)               all other Members present.

RESOLVED:  To note that the following interests were declared:

Agenda Item 8 – Recruitment to the post of Chief Executive and the statutory role of Head of Paid Service

Councillor Barry Macleod-Cullinane declared non-pecuniary interests in that he had been a member of Cabinet when the post of Chief Executive had been deleted and as he had also submitted a Call in notice in relation to the Cabinet decision ‘Outcome of Consultation on options for the Council’s Senior Management Arrangements’.  He would remain in the room whilst the matter was considered and voted upon.

Councillor Paul Osborn declared non-pecuniary interests in that he had been a member of Cabinet when the post of Chief Executive had been deleted and as he was a member of the Call-In Sub-Committee which would be considering the Call in notice submitted in relation to the Cabinet decision ‘Outcome of Consultation on options for the Council’s Senior Management Arrangements’.  He would remain in the room whilst the matter was considered and voted upon.

That the minutes of the meeting of the Chief Officer Employment Panel held on 5 March 2014 be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 5 March 2014 be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

To receive petitions (if any) submitted by members of the public/Councillors under the provisions of Committee Procedure Rule 15 (Part 4B of the Constitution).

RESOLVED:  To note that no petitions had been received.

To receive deputations (if any) under the provisions of Committee Procedure Rule 16 (Part 4B) of the Constitution.

RESOLVED:  To note that no deputations had been received.

To receive any public questions received in accordance with Committee Procedure Rule 17 (Part 4B of the Constitution).

Questions will be asked in the order notice of them was received and there be a time limit of 15 minutes.

[The deadline for receipt of public questions is 3.00 pm, Tuesday 23 September 2014. Questions should be sent to publicquestions@harrow.gov.uk  

No person may submit more than one question].

RESOLVED:  To note that no public questions had been received.

Report of the Divisional Director of Human Resources, Development & Shared Services

Members received a report from the Divisional Director of Human Resources, Development and Shared Services which made recommendations in relation to the job description and remuneration for the post of Chief Executive and the statutory role of Head of Paid Service.

Members debated the timing of the report.  The Divisional Director confirmed that the Panel’s decision could not be implemented until the call in submitted in relation to the Cabinet decision ‘Outcome of consultation on options for the Council’s Senior Management Arrangements’ had been considered and resolved.

A Member proposed that the consideration of the report be deferred until the conclusion of the call in process.  This was duly seconded, put to the vote and was lost.

A Member referred to the Council’s Pay Policy Statement for 2014/15 and stated that the post of Chief Executive was not included and therefore the post could not be advertised.  The Divisional Director acknowledged that the pay band had been removed from the Statement when the post of Chief Executive had been deleted and would therefore require review subject to the Panel’s decision.

In terms of the engagement of an ‘executive search’ organisation, a Member expressed the view that this could be re-visited if insufficient interest in the post was received.  The post would initially be advertised in the Municipal Journal and on the Council’s website at a cost of approximately £5,000 - £6,000.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)               the draft job description and person specification for the post of Chief Executive be agreed.

(2)               the post of Chief Executive be advertised on the Council’s most recent (2013/14) pay scale with remuneration package of £147,813 - £167,997 and that performance related pay not be offered;

(3)               a specialist ‘executive search’ organisation only be used to support the recruitment process if insufficient interest was received and that applicants be invited to submit applications for consideration by the Panel and, if short listed, be selected for interview and recommended to Council for appointment to the post of Chief Executive and the statutory role of Head of Paid Service.

[Note:  Councillors Macleod-Cullinane and Osborn wished to be recorded as having voted against the above Resolutions and as having not voted on the resolution in relation to engagement of a specialist ‘executive search’ organisation].