Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Director of Strategy, Performance and Governance, (copy enclosed).

The Council considered the report of the Director of Strategy, Performance and Governance, seeking Members review of the designation and role of the Head of Paid Service in light of the Council decision on 9 August 2018 to appoint Mr Richard Holmes as Interim Head of Paid Service until 31 July 2019.

Members were reminded that following the removal of the post of Chief Executive from the corporate management structure the Council had agreed to appoint an interim Head of Paid Service until 31 July 2019.  The report sought Members’ consideration of this appointment as a permanent arrangement.

In light of the current transformation process there was a need to review the constitutional arrangements which were put in place alongside the interim appointment.  The report set out the duty of the Head of Paid Service and the requirements of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 and Local Government Act 2000 and where changes to the constitutional document were required.

Councillor A S Fluker advised that line 4 of paragraph 3.1 should refer to 2019.  He paid tribute to Mr Holmes and the way he had discharged his duties as the Interim Head of Paid Service since August 2018.  Councillor Fluker also referred to the demands on this role as a result of the full Council transformation process.

Councillor Fluker proposed that recommendation (i) to (iii) as set out in the report be agreed and that Mr Richard Holmes be appointed Head of Paid Service on a permanent basis from 1 August 2019.  This proposal was duly seconded and upon a vote being taken was agreed. 

RESOLVED

(i)                 That the need to re-define the role of the Head of Paid Service on a permanent basis in line with the Council’s Transformation Process be endorsed;

(ii)               That the arrangements in place for the consideration and report by the Corporate Governance Working Group by way of a review of existing constitutional documentation and how, in part, this may affect the role of the Head of Paid Service be noted;

(iii)             That Mr Richard Holmes be appointed at Head of Paid Service on a permanent basis from 1 August 2019;

(iv)             That any associated arrangements in relation to (iii) above be agreed.