Nominations were sought for Chairman and Vice-Chairman.

Resolved:

(1)  That Councillor Roger Truelove be elected as Chairman for the 2020/21 municipal year.

(2)  That Councillor Mike Baldock be elected as Vice-Chairman for the 2020/21 municipal year.

The Chairman explained that the meeting would be conducted in accordance with the Local Authorities and Police and Crime Panel (Coronavirus) (Flexibility of Local Authority Police and Crime Panel Meetings) (England and Wales) Regulations 2020 No. 392.

The Chairman welcomed all Members, officers and members of the public to the meeting.

To approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 30 October 2019 (Minute Nos. 315 - 319) as a correct record.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 30 October 2019 (Minute Nos. 315-319) were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

Councillors should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for  themselves or their spouse, civil partner or person with whom they are living with as a spouse or civil partner.  They must declare and resolve any interests and relationships.

The Chairman will ask Members if they have any interests to declare in respect of items on this agenda, under the following headings:

(a)             Disclosable Pecuniary Interests (DPI) under the Localism Act 2011.  The nature as well as the existence of any such interest must be declared.  After declaring a DPI, the Member must leave the meeting and not take part in the discussion or vote.  This applies even if there is provision for public speaking.

(b)             Disclosable Non Pecuniary (DNPI) under the Code of Conduct adopted by the Council in May 2012.  The nature as well as the existence of any such interest must be declared.  After declaring a DNPI interest, the Member may stay, speak and vote on the matter.

(c)             Where it is possible that a fair-minded and informed observer, having considered the facts would conclude that there was a real possibility that the Member might be predetermined or biased the Member should declare their predetermination or bias and then leave the room while that item is considered.

Advice to Members:  If any Councillor has any doubt about the existence or nature of any DPI or DNPI which he/she may have in any item on this agenda, he/she should seek advice from the Monitoring Officer, the Head of Legal or from other Solicitors in Legal Services as early as possible, and in advance of the Meeting.

No interests were declared.

Report published 16 July 2020.

The Chairman introduced the report which asked the Sub-Committee to agree which members of the Committee should form the recruitment panel for the Chief Executive post.  The Chairman drew Members’ attention to Appendix I on page 7 of the report which set out the timeline process for each stage.

The Chairman proposed that there should be three members of the Committee on the panel, and since the Leader of the opposition was no longer a Committee member, proposed that himself, the Deputy Leader and the Deputy Leader of the opposition, Councillor David Simmons, sat on the recruitment panel.  This was seconded by the Deputy Leader. During the discussion that followed, Councillor Ken Ingleton agreed to sit on the panel, in place of the Deputy Leader of the opposition.

In response to a question from a member about holding interviews, the Chairman advised that the final interview would need to be held in Swale House, observing strict social distancing rules.

In the debate that followed, a member supported a face-to-face final interview but said that there should be more than three people on the panel.  The Chairman said that the Head of Human Resources (HR) Shared Services and the recruitment consultant would also be in attendance.

In response to a question from a member on the process and timetable, the Head of HR Shared Services explained that the appointment would be considered by the Appointment Sub-Committee and then recommended to Full Council.  She added that the dates on the timeline at Appendix 1 in the report were provisional and might change.  Referring to the number of people on the panel interview, the Head of HR Shared Services said that smaller numbers on the panel were more manageable and resulted in more effective dialogue with candidates.  She advised that Solace had been appointed as the recruitment agency.

In the discussion that followed, a member proposed a larger selection panel but was not supported by other members.  Other members said that three members worked well, so long as all other members were regularly kept updated during the process. 

Members discussed which skills, qualities and background were important in a candidate.

Councillor David Simmons proposed that Councillors Roger Truelove, Mike Baldock and Ken Ingleton formed part of the recruitment panel for the Chief Executive post.  This was seconded by Councillor Denise Knights.

Resolved

(1)  That Councillors Roger Truelove, Mike Baldock and Ken Ingleton sit on the recruitment panel for the appointment of Chief Executive post.