Agenda and draft minutes

Venue: David Hicks 1 - Civic Offices, Shute End, Wokingham RG40 1BN

Contact: Anne Hunter  Democratic and Electoral Services Lead Specialist

Link: Watch the video of this meeting

Items
No. Item

9.

Apologies

To receive any apologies for absence

Minutes:

An apology for absence was submitted from Councillor Simon Weeks.  Councillor Stuart Munro substituted for Councillor Weeks.

10.

Minutes of Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 53 KB

To confirm the Minutes of the Meeting held on 13 June 2018.

 

Minutes:

The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 13 June 2018 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

11.

Declarations of Interest

To receive any declarations of interest

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest received.

12.

Public Question Time

To answer any public questions

 

The Council welcomes questions from members of the public about the item included within this agenda.

 

Subject to meeting certain timescales, questions can relate to the 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 received.

13.

Member Question Time

To answer any Member questions relating to the item included within this agenda

Minutes:

There were no Member questions received.

14.

Appointment of Statutory Director of Children's Services

Council is required to appoint statutory officers, including the Director of Children’s Services.

 

Lisa Humphreys was appointed to the role of Director of Children’s Services on an interim basis in June but as she will be leaving Wokingham Borough Council shortly it is necessary to appoint another interim to take on the role until the recruitment process for a permanent Director of Children’s Services is finalised and an appointment made.

 

It is therefore proposed to appoint, on an interim basis, Jim Leivers to the statutory role of Director Children’s Services.

 

RECOMMENDATION:  That Jim Leivers be appointed to the statutory role of Director of Children’s Services on an interim basis from 21 August 2018 until such time as a permanent appointment is made and is able to start with the Council.

Minutes:

The Committee considered the appointment of Jim Leivers to the statutory role of Director of Children’s Services on an interim basis following the resignation of Lisa Humphreys who currently undertakes this role.  It was noted that Personnel Board was currently in the process of recruiting a permanent Director of Children’s Services.

 

The Chairman advised that the Committee that received copies of Mr Leivers’ references and he had personally received a communication from the Chairman of the Personnel Board which supported the appointment.

 

With regard to a query about whether due diligence had taken place the Leader of Council confirmed that the references would be validated and she had personally spoken to one of the referees who had provided a very positive response.

 

RESOLVED:  That Jim Leivers be appointed to the statutory role of Director of Children’s Services on an interim basis from 21 August 2018 until such time as a permanent appointment is made and is able to start with the Council.