Agenda and minutes

Councillor Paul Crossley was elected as Chair of the Committee.

There were no apologies for absence.

The Chair will draw attention to the emergency evacuation procedure as set out under Note 6.

The Chair drew attention to the emergency evacuation procedure as set out on the agenda.

To receive any declarations from Members/Officers of personal or prejudicial interests in respect of matters for consideration at this meeting.  Members who have an interest to declare are asked to:

a)  State the Item Number in which they have the interest;

b)  The nature of the interest;

c)  Whether the interest is personal, or personal and prejudicial.

Any Member who is unsure about the above should seek advice from the Monitoring Officer prior to the meeting in order to expedite matters at the meeting itself.

The Chief Executive declared a personal interest in item 9.

There were no items of urgent business.

There were no questions or statements received from the public or Councillors.

Comments were received from UNISON which were circulated at the meeting and have been placed on the Minute book.

The Council, at its meeting on 16 November 2010, approved proposals for a future organisational model for the Council with a focus on a strategic leadership role.  This report seeks authority to implement some aspects of the new senior management structure to support the transition to the new organisational model.

The Committee considered a report seeking authority to implement some aspects of the new senior management structure to support the transition to the new organisational model approved by Council in November 2010.

The Monitoring Officer advised that there was no significant equalities impact arising from these proposals; a position which was accepted by the Committee.

The Committee considered the submission from UNISON, broadly in support of retention of the present senior management structure which included a Head of Paid Service/Chief Executive.

On a motion from Councillor Paul Crossley, seconded by Councillor Francine Haeberling, it was

RESOLVED

1. To approve the appointment of the current Strategic Director - Resources & Support Services to the new post of Strategic Director – Resources by transfer with effect from 1 August 2011;

2. To approve the designation of the new post of Strategic Director – People and Communities with scope as set out in paragraphs 5.12 - 5.14 of the report;

3. To approve the appointment of the current Strategic Director – Children’s Services to the new post of Strategic Director – People and Communities by transfer with effect from 1 August 2011;

4. To recommend to Council that the holder of the post of Strategic Director – People and Communities be designated as the statutory Director of Children’s Services and Director of Adult Services;

5. To note the organisational arrangements and interim senior management structure in the People and Communities Department (as outlined in paragraphs 5.19 and Appendix 4 of the report);

6. To agree to the secondment of Community Health Commissioning staff to the Local Authority;

7. To note and agree that suitable arrangements be put in place to integrate the work of Public Health Commissioning staff into the Local Authority pending legislative change in respect of the Public Health function which is anticipated later in 2011;

8. To note the current position in respect of the ‘Place’ role as outlined in paragraph 5.17 of the report and that a report(s) on future organisational structure will be brought to this Committee in due course;

9. To transfer Improvement & Performance Services within the organisational management structure to the Strategic Director – Resources portfolio with effect from 1 August 2011;

10. To note that the current Chief Executive, in his role as Head of Paid Service, will continue to work directly with second tier officers in identified roles where it is appropriate to ensure the proper functioning of the Council; and

11. To recommend to Council the retention of the present structure i.e. to retain the present post of Head of Paid Service/Chief Executive within the new senior management structure.

The Committee is asked to agree;

that, having been satisfied that the public interest would be better served by not disclosing relevant information, and in accordance with the provisions of Section 100 (A) (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business because of the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act as amended.

The public interest test document is attached.

Following consideration of the public interest test, and on a resolution from Councillor Francine Haeberling, seconded by Councillor John Bull, the Committee then

RESOLVED that having been satisfied that the public interest would be better served by not disclosing relevant information, and in accordance with the provisions of Section 100 (A) (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business because of the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act as amended.

The Monitoring Officer and Head of Human Resources will update the Committee on confidential staffing issues, arising out of Item 7 above, at the meeting.

The Committee discussed transitional arrangements in the event that the Chief Executive was likely to retire, and

RESOLVED that officers be required to undertake further work to provide support for the transition.