Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillors Lamb and Khan.

Councillor Shearman was in attendance as a Substitute.

At this point Members must declare whether they have a disclosable pecuniary interest, or other interest, in any of the items on the agenda, unless it is already entered in the register of members’ interests or is a “pending notification “ that has been disclosed to the Solicitor to the Council.

Members must also declare if they are subject to their party group whip in relation to any items under consideration.

          There were no declarations of interest.

In accordance with Standing Orders, Members are asked to determine whether item 5, Interviews for the post of Head of Strategic Client Services, which contains exempt information relating to individuals as defined by Paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of Schedule 12A of Part 1 of the Local Government Act 1972, should be exempt and the press and public excluded from the meeting when it is discussed, or whether the public interest in disclosing this information outweighs the public interest in maintaining the exemption.

            In accordance with Standing Orders, Members agreed that agenda item 5 contained exempt   information as defined by paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of Schedule 12A of Part 1 of the Local Government Act 1972 and that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information, therefore the press and public were to be excluded for that item.

The Committee received a report which sought its approval to appoint Jean Imray as Interim Assistant Director for Safeguarding Families and Communities, and to delegate the agreement of Jean Imray’s term and conditions, and any changes thereto, to the Interim Director of Children’s Services.

            It was advised that Sue Westcott was the current Assistant Director, Safeguarding Families and Communities. A national recruitment campaign was planned to commence in the New Year to replace her, following her appointment as Executive Director of Children’s Services by the Employment Committee on 19 September 2012, with her due to commence her duties on 21 December 2012.

            In the interim, the post needed to be covered temporarily and it was proposed that Jean Imray undertake this role. Jean Imray was currently employed through the Council’s strategic partnership with Serco as the Interim Head of Quality Assurance. As she would be appointed as an Assistant Director, it was within the remit of Employment Committee’s terms of reference to appoint her.

            RESOLVED:

            The Employment Committee:

            1. Appointed Jean Imray as Assistant Director, Safeguarding Families and Communities; and

         2. Delegated the agreement of Jean Imray’s terms and conditions, and any changes thereto, to the Interim Director of Children’s Services.

            In accordance with the decision taken to exclude the press and public from item 5, the meeting went into exempt session.

          Prior to the commencement of the interviews, the Committee wished for it to be noted that it had requested an overview explanation from the Chief Executives Office in relation to the recruitment process which had been undertaken for the post of Head of Strategic Client Services. The Committee was satisfied with the information it had received.

          One candidate was interviewed for the post of Head of Strategic Client Services.

          RESOLVED: to appoint Mr Ricky Fuller, who was currently employed as Director of Transformation at V4 Services Limited.