24 02 2005

47.

APOLOGIES

 

Apologies for inability to attend the meeting were received on behalf of The Mayor (Councillor Edwards) and Councillor Mrs Wright.

 

48.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

 

There were no declarations of interest.

 

49.

DEPUTATIONS

 

There were no deputations.

 

50.

PUBLIC  QUESTIONS

 

There were no public questions.

 

51.

ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE

 

With the early retirement of the current Chief Executive on 31 March 2005, the resulting vacancy needed to be filled and, at their meeting on 2 February 2005, the Sub Board agreed that a special meeting should be convened to consider the arrangements to be recommended for the appointment to the post of Chief Executive.

 

The Head of Personnel apprised Members that, under the Council’s Constitution, the Sub Board had delegated powers to recommend arrangements for appointment to the Policy and Organisation Board, who could nominate an Officer or Appointments Sub Board with power to act on its behalf for such an appointment.  Approval by Council would be required before an offer of appointment could be made. 

 

The Sub Board considered a report outlining the job profile and person specification for the post of Chief Executive, together with the detail of the draft advertisement for the job.  Members also considered and discussed the various elements that could be incorporated in the appointment process to ensure that all applicants were assessed on the same basis.  It was suggested that an Appointments Sub Board should be set up on the basis of 2:2:1, i.e. comprising two Conservative Members, two Labour Members and one Liberal Democrat Member.

 

The post of Chief Executive included the statutory role of ‘Head of Paid Service’ and was the Council’s most senior appointment.  It was suggested that interviews should be carried out over a two-day period.

 

The Sub Board debated the value of using an external consultancy during the assessment process and acknowledged that it would be prudent to enlist independent consultant advice for the first day of the appointment process in order to demonstrate fairness and impartiality, especially as there were likely to be internal candidates.  The second day would be reserved for formal interviews and decision.

 

The detail of the group exercises, topics and presentations for the first day and the questions for the formal interviews on the second day of the selection process would need to be determined at a later stage.  The proposed tour of the Borough could be conducted by a Chief Officer.

 

RESOLVED: That the Policy and Organisation Board be recommended to approve the following to enable the appointment to the post of Chief Executive:

 

(a) the content of the job profile and person specification as detailed in the report;

 

(b) the advertisement for the post of Chief Executive, as amended by the Sub Board, and agree that the advertisement be placed in the Municipal Journal and The Guardian newspaper  during week commencing 28 March 2005, with a closing date of 29 April 2005 for receipt of applications;

 

(c) the suggested programme for the selection process as outlined in the report;

 

(d) that an external independent consultant from South East Employers be engaged to facilitate part of the selection process on the first day; and

 

(e)  that, following interviews for candidates on 24 and 25 May 2005, a Council meeting be held on the evening of 25 May 2005 to confirm the appointment of Chief Executive.

 

(f)  that an Appointments Board be set up with powers to act on behalf of the Board, comprising 2 Conservative Members, 2 Labour Members and 1 Liberal Democrat Member;

 

The meeting commenced at 6.00pm and concluded at 6.25pm