Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Holdich and Councillor Sandford.

Councillor Cereste was in attendance as substitute.

            There were no declarations of interest.

In accordance with Standing Orders, Members are asked to determine whether agenda item 5, Interviews for the positions of ‘Director for Communities’, ‘Director of Governance’, ‘Executive Director of Adult Social Care and Health and Wellbeing’ and ‘Director of Growth and Regeneration’, which all contain 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 the items are discussed, or whether the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in maintaining the exemption.

          In accordance with Standing Orders, the Committee was asked to determine whether agenda item 5, interviews for the positions of ‘Director for Communities’, ‘Director of Governance’, ‘Executive Director of Adult Social Care and Health and Wellbeing’ and ‘Director of Growth and Regeneration’, which all contained 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 the items were discussed, or whether the public interest in disclosing the information outweighed the public interest in maintaining the exemption.

The Committee unanimously agreed to the exclusion of the press and public for agenda item 5.

            The Chief Executive presented a report to the Committee which requested it to appoint Mr Jonathan Lewis to the post of Head of Corporate Property and Children’s Resources.

A previous report had been presented to the Committee at its meeting held on 27 September 2013, where the proposals to change the senior management structure were presented and noted. Those proposals included bringing together a number of functions which sat separately within service departments, namely finance, performance management and asset management. It was identified that this would streamline management structures, create further savings and better support the Council in delivering its objectives.

The removal of the finance function and the asset management function from the Children’s Services directorate meant that the post of Assistant Director Education and Resources would no longer be required and the post holder, Mr Jonathan Lewis, placed at risk. However as a significant proportion of the post holder’s existing responsibilities transferred to the newly created post of Head of Corporate Property and Children’s Resources in the Resources Directorate, the post holder would slot to the new post, which was largely similar to his current role.

The Employment Committee was therefore requested, under its terms of reference, to confirm the appointment.

            RESOLVED:

            The Employment Committee appointed Mr Jonathan Lewis to the post of Head of Corporate Property and Children’s Resources.

            Reasons for the decision:

            The proposed slot was in accordance with Peterborough City Council’s policy to support the redeployment of staff at risk of redundancy.

          As agreed at agenda item 3, the meeting moved into exempt session.

          Two candidates were interviewed for the position of Director for Communities.

          RESOLVED: to appoint Ms Wendi Ogle-Welbourn, who was currently employed as Assistant Director, Children’s Services - Safeguarding Families and Communities at Peterborough City Council.

          One candidate was interviewed for the position of Director of Governance.

          RESOLVED: to appoint Ms Kim Sawyer, who was currently employed as Head of Legal at Peterborough City Council.

          One candidate was interviewed for the position of Executive Director of Adult Social Care and Health and Wellbeing.

          RESOLVED: to appoint Ms Jana Burton, who was currently employed as Assistant Director, Adult Social Care at Peterborough City Council.

          One candidate was interviewed for the position of Director of Growth and Regeneration.

RESOLVED: to appoint Mr Simon Machen, who was currently employed as Head of Planning, Transport and Engineering Services at Peterborough City Council.