Council

Recruitment of the Head of Paid Service (Chief Executive) Date: 27 September 2023 Class: Part 1 Ward(s) affected: Not applicable	Contributors:	Jeremy Chambers	Director of Law & Corporate Governance (Monitoring Officer)

Outline & Recommendations The Chief Executive role is currently being undertaken by Jennifer Daothong, Executive Director, on a temporary basis pending the recruitment and appointment to the permanent role. The administration wishes to pursue a permanent appointment and this report seeks approval for the involvement of the Appointments Committee and to confirm its composition. Council is asked to agree that: - The process for the recruitment of the permanent Chief Executive is commenced as soon as is reasonably practicable; The Appointments Committee assists the Council in the recruitment process with a report being brought to a future meeting of the Council to confirm the appointment of the permanent postholder; That the composition of the Appointments Committee be confirmed as detailed in paragraph 4.2 of this report; The Mayor, in consultation with the Director of Law & Corporate Governance and the Director of People & Organisational Development, be authorised to finalise the matters referred to in paragraph 5.1 of this report.

Summary

The Chief Executive role is currently being undertaken by Jennifer Daothong, Executive Director, on a temporary basis pending the recruitment and appointment to the permanent role. The administration wishes to pursue a permanent appointment and this report seeks approval for the involvement of the Appointments Committee and to confirm its composition.

Recommendations

Council is asked to agree that: -

The process for the recruitment of the permanent Chief Executive is commenced as soon as is reasonably practicable;

The Appointments Committee assists the Council in the recruitment process with a report being brought to a future meeting of the Council to confirm the appointment of the permanent postholder;

That the composition of the Appointments Committee be confirmed as detailed in paragraph 4.2 of this report;

The Mayor, in consultation with the Director of Law & Corporate Governance and the Director of People & Organisational Development, be authorised to finalise the matters referred to in paragraph 5.1 of this report.

Background

The appointment of the Chief Executive (Head of the Paid Service) is reserved in law to a meeting of Council. Under the Council’s Constitution, the Appointments Committee has the following in its Terms of Reference: -

To assist the Council in the appointment of the Head of Paid Service as the Council shall request from time to time.

The Constitution also states: -

Where the Council requests the Appointments Committee to assist with the appointment of the Head of Paid Service, the functions of the appointment of the Head of Paid Service are delegated to the Appointments Committee in accordance with Article 9, subject to the approval of the full Council. No letter of appointment (or dismissal) may be sent until such approval is obtained.

The administration wishes to pursue a permanent appointment and this report seeks approval for the involvement of the Appointments Committee and its composition.

Composition of Appointments Committee

As there are no other political groups currently on the Council, the composition of the Appointments Committee would ordinarily be the Chair of Overview & Scrutiny, and two such executive members as the Mayor, as Leader of the largest political group, may nominate on a meeting-by-meeting basis.

Council is asked to agree the following composition of the Appointments Committee for this appointment only: -

The Chair of Overview & Scrutiny Committee – Cllr Rudi Schmidt;

The Mayor;

Two Executive Members – to be nominated by the Mayor;

Two non-Executive Members – to be nominated by the Mayor.

The four nominated councillors must be confirmed in writing to the Council’s Monitoring Officer, as proper officer

Employment Procedure Rules

Pursuant to the Council’s Employment Procedure Rules contained in the Constitution, in the recruitment of the Chief Executive, the Council will: -

draw up a statement specifying the duties of the post concerned and any qualifications or qualities to be sought in the person to be appointed;

make arrangements for the post to be advertised in such a way as is likely to bring it to the attention of persons who are qualified to apply for it;

make arrangements for a copy of the statement mentioned in paragraph (1) to be sent to any person on request.

Council is asked to agree to delegate finalisation of these matters to the Mayor in consultation with the Director of Law & Corporate Governance and the Director of People & Organisational Development.

Financial implications

There are none directly arising from this report.

Legal implications

All relevant legal matters are addressed in the body of the report.

Equalities implications

None

Climate change and environmental implications

None

Crime and disorder implications

None

Health and wellbeing implications

None

Background papers

None

Report author and contact

Jeremy Chambers

Director of Law & Corporate Governance (Monitoring Officer)

Appendices

None