Agenda and minutes

To receive any declaration of interest from any Member or Officer in respect of any item of business.

The Head of Function (Council Business)/Monitoring Officer declared an interest in Item 3 at 3.4 (ch) within the report and left the meeting during discussion.

To consider adoption of the following:-

“Under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, to exclude the press and public from meeting during discussion on the following item on the grounds that it may involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Schedule 12A of the said Act and in the attached Public Interest Test”.

It was RESOLVED to adopt the following :-

“Under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 to exclude the press and public from the meeting during the discussion of the following item on the grounds that it involved the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Schedule 12A of the said Act and in the Public Interest Test presented.”

To submit a report by the Chief Executive.

Submitted – the report of the Chief Executive in relation to the above.

The Chief Executive reported that on 15 December, 2014 he submitted a report to the Executive, at the request of the Council Leader, providing a number of options to be considered for the restructure of the Senior Leadership Team following the decision of the Executive to list a reduction in the Council’s senior level management capacity amongst the efficiency savings in the package of proposals for the 2015/16 budget. 

It was noted that the Executive had recommended Option 4 to the County Council as the preferred option as fulfilling the objectives and as being achievable for implementation, with a view to commissioning more detailed work to develop the option for consultation with staff.  The Appointments Committee will be requested to implement to recruitment process for restructure and to consider the pay structure.

With reference to the Appointments Committee, Councillor A.M. Jones wished it to be noted that the Committee has representation from each political group, but not each political party.

Members of the County Council deliberated the matter in depth and compared the senior management level and pay structures of the North Wales Authorities. 

Following lengthy deliberations it was RESOLVED :-

·           That Option 4 within the report is the preferred option;

·           To proceed to appoint a new Chief Executive for the Council as a priority;

·           To designate the post of Chief Executive as the Head of Paid Service and the Council’s Returning Officer;

·            

·           To delegate to the Appointments Committee the responsibility for advertising, assessing candidates, drawing-up a shortlist, interviewing candidates and recommending a qualified individual to be appointed by the full Council;

·           To delegate the right to the Appointments Committee to receive external advisory support, if it so wishes, to advice on the assessment process but keeping the costs of such provision to a minimum;

·           To seek the opinion and guidance of the Independent Remuneration Panel on the salary structure for the post of Chief Executive;

·           That the statutory posts of Section 151 Finance Officer and Monitoring Officer be incorporated within the Senior Leadership Team.