Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

An apology for absence was received from Cllr G Suttle and Cllr S Flower had been asked to substitute for him.

Cllr Flower confirmed that he had reviewed all the documents prior to the meeting and stated that he possessed the necessary training to participate on the interview panel.

To elect a Chair for the meeting.

It was proposed by Cllr B Wilson and seconded by Cllr C Sutton

Decision

That Cllr N Ireland be elected the Chair for the meeting.

To disclose any pecuniary, other registrable or non-registrable interests as set out in the adopted Code of Conduct. In making their decision councillors are asked to state the agenda item, the nature of the interest and any action they propose to take as part of their declaration.

If required, further advice should be sought from the Monitoring Officer in advance of the meeting.

No declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests were made at the meeting.

To receive a report of the Recruitment and Attraction Lead Consultant.

The Staffing Committee received a report setting out the recruitment campaign and process for the appointment of Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service.

To consider passing the following recommendation:

Recommendation  

That in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 to exclude the public from the meeting for the business specified in item(s) No 5 because it is likely that if members of the public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in paragraph(s) 1 & 3 of Part 1 of schedule 12A to the Act and the public interest in withholding the information outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information to the public.  

The public and the press will be asked to leave the meeting whilst the item of business is considered.

Reason for taking the item in private

Paragraph 1 - Information relating to any individual.  

Paragraph 3 - Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

It was proposed by Cllr N Ireland and seconded by Cllr A Parry

Decision

That the press and the public be excluded for the following item(s) in view of the likely disclosure of exempt information within the meaning of paragraph 1 & 3 of schedule 12 A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

To make the appointment of the Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service.

The Staffing Committee interviewed five candidates whose presentations to the committee and answers to questions were scored individually by each member.

Following the interviews the Staffing Committee received feedback about each candidate from Bryony Houlden (Chief Executive of South West Councils) who had chaired an external stakeholder panel and from Lisa Cotton (Corporate Director, Transformation, Customer & Cultural Services) who had chaired an employee panel.     

Following discussion, it was proposed by Cllr N Ireland and seconded by Cllr A Parry

Recommendation to Council (unanimous)

That Dr Catherine Howe be appointed to the post of Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service.

Members of the committee wished to record their thanks to Erin Lawrence and the Recruitment Attraction Team for the professional way in which the recruitment and selection process had been run.