Issue - meetings

To consider recommendations from Personnel Board regarding the recruitment and appointment of Directors and Assistant Directors (permanent and interim).

RECOMMENDATION That Council agree:

1)               to the changes to the appointment processes for Directors and Assistant Directors, as set out in the report;

2)               that changes to the appointment processes for Directors and Assistant Directors will not apply to any recruitment process that has already started.

Council considered a report regarding the recruitment and appointment of Directors and Assistant Directors (Permanent and Interim) as set out in agenda pages 153 to 158.

It was proposed by John Halsall and seconded by John Kaiser that the recommendations in the report be agreed.

John Halsall commented that whilst it was desirable to continue to have permanent staff as the norm, for various reasons, the use of temporary or interim staff was becoming more common.  Changes were therefore proposed to the appointment process of permanent and interim Director and Assistant Directors.

Rachel Bishop-Firth stated that the appointment of key people was vital.  She had been disappointed that the inclusion of the Leader of the Opposition as a consultee in the appointment process had not been agreed.  She pointed out that the Leader of the Council and the Chairman of the Personnel Board were the same person.

RESOLVED  That Council agrees:

1)              to the changes to the appointment processes for Directors and Assistant Directors, as set out in the report;

2)              that changes to the appointment processes for Directors and Assistant Directors will not apply to any recruitment process that has already started.

To receive a report regarding the Recruitment and appointment of Directors and Assistant Directors (Permanent and Interim).

The Board received a report regarding the recruitment and appointment of Directors and Assistant Directors (Permanent and Interim).

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

·       Councillor Halsall commented that the changing employment market and specific projects meant a greater need for interims than in the past.

·       The changes to the Constitution had also previously been considered by the Constitution Review Working Group.

·       Councillor Conway queried the reference to the ‘gig economy’ within the background information and questioned if it was likely to have an impact on Director and Assistant Director level staff at interim level. 

·       Councillor Bishop-Firth agreed with Councillor Conway that the background information would benefit from being amended.  She emphasised that the reason an interim Director or Assistant Director would be required was if their specialist skills were required for a limited period or a gap needed to be filled for a temporary period.  It was agreed that the background information could be simplified.

·       Councillor Bishop-Firth noted it was recommended that an interim appointment could currently be made for up 12 months and that it was proposed that this could be extended subject to the agreement of either the Chief Executive or Director in consultation with various specific Members.  She questioned whether this should be longer, for example 18 months, and referred to handover periods and instances where staff may wish to take maternity leave, and 12 months was less appropriate. 

·       Councillor Kaiser commented that some interims were on high wages and that he would not be comfortable extending an initial appointment beyond 12 months before a review was implemented.

·       Councillor Bishop Firth questioned whether there should be greater flexibility so that an interim could be appointed for 18 months but there be a review period built in after 12 months, to enable better planning.  Councillor Weeks indicated that there was an opportunity to review after 12 months within the proposed amendments to the Constitution, so he felt that this was not necessary.

·       The Assistant Director Governance informed Members that the Constitution Review Working Group had recommended that should the appointment be extended after 12 months’, there be a further review period after another 6 months.

·       Councillor Conway referred to the changes to the Constitution.  He felt that the Member involvement in the process was quite narrow and pointed out that the Leader of the Council and the Chairman of the Personnel Board were currently the same person.  Councillor Halsall commented that there were no guarantees that the Leader and Chairman would be the same person going forwards.  He emphasised that the Chief Executive in the case of interim Directors and the Directors, in the case of Interim Assistant Directors, would be consulting the specific Members and were ultimately the decision makers, as opposed to the Members.

·       The makeup of Members being consulted in the appointment process was discussed in detail. Councillor Weeks suggested that it be added that should the Leader of the Council and the Chairman of the Personnel Board be the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 22