Agenda and minutes

To elect a chair of the committee for the 2021/22 municipal year.

Councillor Maggie Filipova-Rivers was elected Chair of the committee for the 2021/22 municipal year.

To elect a vice-chair of the committee for the 2021/22 municipal year.

Councillor Debby Hallett was elected Vice-Chair of the committee for the 2021/22 municipal year.

None.

None.

To adopt and sign as a correct record the minutes of the committee’s meeting held on 18 March 2021 (attached).

RESOLVED: to adopt and sign as a correct record the minutes of the committee’s meeting held on 18 March 2021.

Purpose: to consider whether to exclude members of the press and public from the meeting for the following items of business under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 and as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006 on the grounds that:

(i) they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1 of Part 1, 2 and 3 of Schedule 12A of the Act, and

(ii) the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

RESOLVED: to exclude members of the press and public from the meeting for the following items of business under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 and as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006 on the grounds that:

i.      they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, and

ii.     the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

To consider the report of the chief executive – report to follow.

Adrianna Partridge, Acting Deputy Chief Executive – Transformation and Operations, was not present during consideration of this item as the holder of one of the posts covered by the report.

The Committee considered the report of the chief executive on the formalisation of the councils’ chief officer structure to support the delivery of each council’s Corporate Plan and Performance Management Framework.

The report sought the committee’s agreement to confirm the permanent appointments of the acting chief officers, three deputy chief executive posts and the head of finance and accountancy post, within the Strategic Management Structure.

The committee supported the proposal noting that the structure had been operating successfully for many months and was one in which members had confidence in. 

RESOLVED: to

1.    support and endorse the formalisation of the existing interim Strategic Management Team (SMT) structure in order to support delivery of the Corporate Plan and the Performance Management Framework;

2.    support the permanent appointments of the current acting deputy chief executive positions to substantive posts within a new SMT structure as described in the report of the chief executive to the Joint Staff Committee on 9 June 2021;

3.    support the confirmation of the existing acting head of service – finance and accountancy into the post of head of service – finance and accountancy, noting this individual has already been confirmed by Councils as their s151 Officer;

4.    authorise the chief executive to undertake the required processes to achieve the above, subject to approval of the revised chief officer structure by the Cabinet of each council.

To conduct interviews and make an appointment to the head of legal and democratic and monitoring officer post – report to follow.

The committee recorded its thanks to Margaret Reed, Head of Legal and Democratic and Monitoring Officer, for her contribution and long service to both councils.

The committee received presentations and conducted formal interviews, with Mark Stone, Chief Executive, and Adrianna Partridge, Acting Deputy Chief Executive – Transformation and Operations, present, for the head of legal and democratic and monitoring officer post.

The committee noted that a final decision on the appointment would be made at its meeting on 10 March 2021 following the completion of all the candidate interviews.