Agenda and minutes

Venue: Civic Offices, Shute End, Wokingham, RG40 1BN

Contact: Madeleine Shopland  Principal Democratic Services Officer

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies

To receive any apologies for absence

Minutes:

There were no apologies for absence received.

2.

Minutes of Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 74 KB

To confirm the Minutes of the Meeting held on 20 March 2017.

 

Minutes:

The Minutes of the meeting of the Board held on 20 March 2017 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

3.

Declaration of Interest

To receive any declarations of interest

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

4.

Public Question Time

To answer any public questions

 

A period of 30 minutes will be allowed for members of the public to ask questions submitted under notice.

 

The Council welcomes questions from members of the public about the work of this committee.

 

Subject to meeting certain timescales, questions can relate to general issues concerned with the work of the Committee or an item which is on the Agenda for this meeting.  For full details of the procedure for submitting questions please contact the Democratic Services Section on the numbers given below or go to www.wokingham.gov.uk/publicquestions

Minutes:

There were no public questions.

5.

Member Question Time

To answer any member questions

Minutes:

There were no Member questions.

6.

Appointment to Post of Chief Executive pdf icon PDF 433 KB

To receive a report regarding the appointment to the post of Chief Executive.

Minutes:

The Board received and considered a report detailing the options for the process to appoint to the post of Chief Executive, following the announcement that the current Chief Executive would be leaving in August 2017.

 

During the discussion of this item, the following points were made:

 

·        Members were informed that Andy Couldrick, the current Chief Executive, would be leaving on 11 August 2017.

·        Sarah Swindley outlined the preferred option; a fixed term external Interim Chief Executive, on a 3 days per week basis, or an internal secondment to Interim Chief Executive.  An interim Chief Executive would be sought for a period of 6 months.  An Executive Search Company would be appointed to undertake the recruitment of a permanent Chief Executive during that period.

·        Councillor Helliar-Symons commented that she believed that the post of interim Chief Executive should be open to both internal and external candidates.  Senior officers were already very busy, particularly with the implementation of 21st Century Council. 

·        Councillor Margetts stated that he agreed with the proposal to appoint an Interim Chief Executive initially.

·        Members discussed when an Interim Chief Executive would expected to be available from. 

·        The Board considered the proposed Job Description and Person Specification.  With regards to the Person Specification Part 2 Skills and Experience, Councillor Haitham Taylor emphasised the importance of candidates having the ambition and an understanding of business and enterprise in order to realise opportunities, in the current financially constrained times.

·        Councillor Margetts questioned whether reference should be made to 21st century Council and also to having the ability to successfully lobby central government.  Councillor Haitham Taylor suggested that point 4 of the person specification Personal Style and Behaviour be expanded to make reference to having a willingness to lobby central government on issues that affect the Council.  She also commented that any permanent candidate should be able to steer the Council as it moved on from 21st century council in the future.  Sarah Swindley proposed that the 21st century council operating model be made available to candidates.

·        Members discussed the possibility of a fixed term external Interim Chief Executive, on a 3 days per week basis.  Some Members questioned whether 3 days a week would be sufficient. 

·        A number of Members expressed concern that if an external interim was appointed for 6 months’ on 3 days per week; it would cost £92,820 against a budget of £87,970.  It was appreciated that it was important to appoint the best candidate.

·        The Board considered market data for Chief Executive total compensation packages for Unitary Authorities in the South East.

·        Sarah Swindley explained that the market had shifted significantly since the Council had last appointed an interim Chief Executive.  Previously the salary offered by the Council had been mid-range but that figure was now at the lower end of the scale.

·        The Board discussed the salary for a permanent candidate.  It was agreed that a salary range should be advertised in order to attract good candidates.  The level of experience  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

7.

Updated Pay Policy Statement pdf icon PDF 176 KB

To consider the Updated Pay Policy Statement.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Personnel Board received the draft Pay Policy Statement for 2017.

 

During the discussion of this item, the following points were made:

 

·         The Statement reflected the Council’s pay arrangements as at 1 April 2017.

·         While there had been no change to Senior Management pay the gap was narrowing, despite the average salary increasing.

·         It was noted that a number of senior manager posts had changed following 21st century Council.  This would be reflected in future versions of the Pay Policy Statement.

 

RESOLVED: That the Personnel Board approve the draft Pay Policy Statement for 2017 and recommend its agreement to Full Council.