Agenda and draft minutes

To remind Members of the need to record the existence and nature of any personal, disclosable pecuniary or other registrable interests in items on the agenda, in accordance with the Members’ Code of Conduct.

There were no declarations of interest received.

Purpose: The Council’s current Chief Executive and head of paid service, Nigel Lynn, leaves the Council on 7 November 2024.  The Council is required in accordance with section 4 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, to designate an officer as its head of paid service. This report therefore seeks approval for the appointment of an interim Chief Executive, who will be designated as the Council’s head of paid Service. Details of the proposed appointee appear in Appendix A. 

Council considered a report (Agenda item 3) concerning the appointment of a Head of Paid Service.

Councillor Jeff Brooks introduced the report. It was noted that it was his intention to go to a Part II to discuss the individual referenced in the report. He advised that the purpose of this was to agree the appointment in principle in part I and to move to Part II to ask Council to agree to the individual.

Some Members highlighted that all parties, including the minority group, should have been invited to participate in the interview process. The Monitoring Officer confirmed to Council that the interviews had been conducted by an appointment panel which consisted of two members of the administration and one member of the opposition in line with proportionality and convention. Councillor Brooks indicated that this point would be considered should there be a larger third party in the Council.

As Council were satisfied the information presented in the report, and the legal requirement to designate an Officer as Head of Paid Service, they agreed to discuss the exempt Appendix which outlined the recommendations of the Member Appointment Panel.

RESOLVED that that Council approve the appointment of the candidate for the role of interim Chief Executive proposed by the Member Appointment Panel detailed in Appendix A, who will be designated as the head of paid service and returning officer with effect from 8 November 2024.

RECOMMENDATION:

That members of the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item as it is likely that there would be disclosure of exempt information of the description contained in the paragraphs of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 specified in brackets in the heading of each item. Section 10 of Part 10 of the Constitution outlines the exclusion of the press and public to meetings.

RESOLVED that members of the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the under-mentioned item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as contained in Paragraphs 1, 2, and 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information)(Variation) Order 2006. Rule 8.10.4 of the Constitution also refers.

Part II Appendix

RESOLVED that that Council approve the appointment of the candidate for the role of interim Chief Executive proposed by the Member Appointment Panel detailed in Appendix A, who will be designated as the head of paid service and returning officer with effect from 8th November 2024.