Agenda item

Report of the Chief Executive

Members received a report of the Chief Executive which reviewed the senior management structure of the Council and proposed recruitment to vacant posts and the creation of new posts.  The report also recognised additional responsibilities of officers and sought approval to remuneration packages. Members agreed to consider appendix 4, the proposed role profile for the post of Commercial Development Director, as an urgent item for the reasons set out on the supplemental agenda.

The Chief Executive outlined the content of the report and emphasised that he wished to clarify structures, roles at the senior management level and also provide increased capacity as quickly as possible.  He stated that, in broad terms, the management structure of the Council was both sound and fairly typical of a local authority.  There were a number of matters outstanding in terms of the senior management structure and his report proposed a way forward and sought to formalise arrangements.

The Chief Executive reported that the Leaders of both Groups and relevant Portfolio Holder had been briefed on the proposed way forward in advance of the Panel meeting as there was a need to move forward quickly in terms of the recruitment to the two Corporate Director roles, People and Resources.   Having consulted Members, expressions of interest had been invited internally for the former and both internally and externally for the latter.  Members would also be provided with the opportunity to have an informal discussion with any prospective candidate(s).

Members expressed concern and had a lengthy discussion in relation to the proposed payment of a one-off honorarium of £7,000 to the Corporate Director, Community for undertaking duties in relation to Planning and Regeneration.  Whilst Members expressed support for the officer concerned, they challenged the way in which the process for agreeing the payment had been handled stating that the Panel should have been consulted either at a formal meeting or via the urgent non-executive action procedure.

In response to Members concerns, the Chair explained that he had discussed the payment of an honoraria to the Corporate Director, Community with the former interim Chief Executive and that he had not wanted convene a Panel meeting for a single issue such as this.  The Chief Executive added that, whilst he understood Members concerns, this matter required resolution and that in terms of HR practices and procedures, it was legitimate to make a one-off payment in terms of additional responsibilities at a time of change.  He reassured Members that a situation such as this would not arise again.  On the basis of this undertaking and this being formally recorded as an action within the minutes, the proposal was agreed by the Panel.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)          the role profiles, salary packages, job tenures and recruitment processes for the posts of Corporate Director, People Services and Corporate Director, Resources be approved;

(2)          the revised role profile for the post of Corporate Director, Community and the payment of a one-off honorarium of £7,000 be approved;

(3)          any future honoraria such as the payment detailed in resolution 2 above be considered by either the Panel or via the urgent non?executive action process;

(4)          the role profiles, salary packages, job tenures and recruitment processes for the posts of Commercial Development Director and Head of Human Resources and Development be approved;

(5)          the Chief Executive be authorised to amend the role profiles and pay either acting up allowances or higher grades to reflect additional responsibilities within the Resources Directorate; and

(6)          the Chief Executive be authorised to make minor amendments to the role profiles under consideration following consultation with the Leader;

(7)          further to resolution 1 above, it was agreed that the candidate advised to the Panel by the Chief Executive for the post of Corporate Director, People Services and the three candidates advised for the post of Corporate Director, Resources be shortlisted and invited for interview.