Agenda item

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 same person, the Vice Chairman of the Personnel Board would also be consulted, so as to ensure scrutiny of the process by three Members as opposed to two.

·       Councillor Hellier Symons stated that working practices were changing and the appointment of interims was becoming more necessary.  With regards to the makeup of Members consulted in the appointment process she suggested that the Leader and two members of Personnel Board be consulted. 

·       Councillor Halsall emphasised that the process should not be too onerous on the Chief Executive or the Directors and needed to enable them to act quickly.

·       In response to a question from Councillor Helliar-Symons, the Assistant Director Governance explained that there were separate arrangements for the appointment of the Monitoring Officer, the Head of Paid Service, and the Section 151 Officer, which were ultimately Council appointments.  With regards to the involvement of Members in the appointment process he added that the Corporate Leadership Team had felt that the proposal detailed in the report struck the appropriate balance between achieving sufficient oversight and authority whilst not unduly delaying the process.  There was currently no Member involvement in the Interim appointment process.

·       Councillor Jones questioned what the Chief Executive’s views were on the changes to the appointment process.  The Assistant Director Governance confirmed that the proposals had been considered by the Corporate Leadership Team who were satisfied with them.

·       The involvement of the relevant Executive Member in the process was clarified.  Councillor Halsall commented that the relevant Executive Member was particularly key in the interim Assistant Director appointment process as they worked closely with them.

·       Councillor Kaiser felt that the change to the appointment process would help to support the Chief Executive and Directors.  He felt that the views of the Corporate Leadership Team should be sought on any changes to the proposals detailed in the report before the Board considered them.

·       Councillor Conway suggested that the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Personnel Board and the Leader of the Opposition be consulted.  He felt that this would ensure that the process was not political. 

·       Councillor Halsall felt that a simple appointment process was necessary to expedite the process.

·       Following further discussion, Councillor Conway proposed that the relevant Executive Member, the Chairman of the Personnel Board, and the Leader of the Opposition be consulted in the interim appointment process.  This proposal was seconded by Councillor Helliar-Symons Following a vote this proposal was lost.  It was agreed that the paper be withdrawn and CLT be consulted on the proposed amendments put forwards by Councillor Conway to those Members who were being consulted in the interim appointment process.  It was further agreed that the views of CLT be sought and the report be brought back to the next meeting of the Personnel Board for consideration.

RESOLVED:  That

1)    CLT be consulted on the proposal that the relevant Executive Member, Chairman of Personnel Board and the Leader of the Opposition be consulted prior to the extension of the contract of an Interim Director or Assistant Director following an initial 12 month appointment;

2)    The views of CLT and the report be brought back to the next Personnel Board meeting for consideration.