Agenda

To note the terms of reference and election of Chair and Vice Chair, as agreed by Council on 4 May 2022:-

9 members (4:3:1 Ind Gp, 1 LD)

Quorum – 3

Chair: G. Sanderson

Vice Chair: R. Wearmouth

Terms of Reference

a.       To discharge the Council’s functions of the employer in relation to the Chief and Deputy Chief Officers. Chief Officer is defined as the Head of Paid Service, the Monitoring Officer and any officer as defined in S.2 (1) (b) (c) and (d) of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.

b.       To consider, approve, or make recommendations to the County Council, in relation to any changes to the overall structure of the Council’s workforce, and the number and designation of Chief Officer and Deputy Chief Officer posts.

c.        To determine the terms and conditions relating to employees of the County Council to include the remuneration and terms and conditions of employment for the Head of Paid Service and Chief and Deputy Chief Officers.

d.       To exercise the discretions available to the employer under the Local Government Pension Scheme and related legislation in relation to the Head of Paid Service and to Chief and Deputy Chief Officers.

e.       To approve any voluntary severance, settlement or ex-gratia payments to be made to the Head of Paid Service or to Chief or Deputy Chief Officers.

NB: No offer of appointment may be made to a Chief or Deputy Chief Officer until the Officer Employment Procedure Rules have been complied with. The Head of Paid Service may approve acting up arrangements in the case of the temporary absence of a Chief or Deputy Chief Officer but may not appoint any interim arrangement without the approval of the committee and compliance with the Officer Appointment Procedure Rules set out in the Constitution.

Open minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 7th April 2022, as circulated, to be confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chair

Unless already entered in the Council’s Register of Members’ interests, members are required where a matter arises at a meeting;

a.       Which directly relates to Disclosable Pecuniary Interest (‘DPI’) as set out in Appendix B, Table 1 of the Code of Conduct, to disclose the interest, not participate in any discussion or vote and not to remain in room. Where members have a DPI or if the matter concerns an executive function and is being considered by a Cabinet Member with a DPI they must notify the Monitoring Officer and arrange for somebody else to deal with the matter.

b.       Which directly relates to the financial interest or well being of a Other Registrable Interest as set out in Appendix B, Table 2 of the Code of Conduct to disclose the interest and only speak on the matter if members of the public are also allowed to speak at the meeting but otherwise must not take part in any discussion  or vote on the matter and must not remain the room.

c.        Which directly relates to their financial interest or well-being  (and is not  DPI) or the financial well being of a relative or close associate, to declare the interest and members may only speak on the matter if members of the public are also allowed to speak. Otherwise, the member must not take part in discussion or vote on the matter and must leave the room.

d.       Which affects the financial well-being of the member, a relative or close associate or a body included under the Other Registrable Interests column in Table 2, to disclose the interest and apply the test set out at paragraph 9 of Appendix B before deciding whether they may remain in the meeting.

e.       Where Members have or a Cabinet Member has an Other Registerable Interest or Non Registerable Interest in a matter being considered in exercise of their executive function, they must notify the Monitoring Officer and arrange for somebody else to deal with it.

NB Any member needing clarification must contact monitoringofficer@northumberland.gov.uk.  Members are referred to the Code of Conduct which contains the matters above in full. Please refer to the guidance on disclosures at the rear of this agenda letter.

To receive a report from the Interim Service Director HR and OD on the work programme for the Committee for the ensuing year (To follow).

To receive the reference from the meeting of the Extraordinary County Council meeting held on 8th June 2022

“To consider the contents of the Statutory Report of the Chief Finance Officer dated 23rd May 2022 in relation to the payment of the International Allowance and related matters”

The Committee is invited to consider passing the following resolution:

(a)       That under Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items on the agenda as they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A of the 1972 Act, and

(b)           That the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosure for the following reasons-

Confidential minutes of the meeting of the Committee dated 7 April 2022, as circulated, to be confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chair.

The Committee will receive a report from the Interim Director of Governance relating to the legal position and be invited to commission further detailed legal advice from Nigel Giffin QC – Report to follow

To consider a report from the Interim Service Director HR and OD relating to health and well-being of members and officers of the County Council - Report to follow.

To receive a report from the Interim Director of Governance concerning on-going litigation and internal processes, including options for mediation and alternative dispute resolution – Report to follow

To consider an update from the Interim Service Director for HR & OD relating to cases referred to the Occupational Health Service – Verbal update will be given to the Committee.