Agenda

Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 30 January 2023, 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.

Senior Management Restructure Proposal

The purpose of this report is to set out and seek agreement to a proposal for a management restructure across the Council consistent with the revised Executive Director structure.

The Committee approved the revised executive arrangements (tiers 1and 2) at its meeting in September 2022 and this was subsequently also approved by full Council, with progressive implementation since that time.  This proposal covers the necessary senior management restructure (tiers 3 and 4) and the proposal is appended to this report (Appendix 1).  Appendix 1 to be considered under agenda item 10 in Part 2 of this agenda.  (Appendix A).

Pay Protection Provision for Senior Managers

The purpose of this report is to seek approval to agree to an adjustment of current provision for pay protection for employees at NCC Band 14 and above ie those on Senior Manager Terms and Conditions. The proposed adjustment would bring greater parity with provision for employees at NCC Band 13 and below (Pay Protection policy – appendix 1) and with other local government employers (Benchmarking – appendix 2) (Appendix B).

Restructure of Tiers 3 and 4 – Consequential Redundancies

This report sets out the current position and requests approval of the applications for voluntary redundancy (VR) for five posts. It highlights the considerations taken around the applications of VR against the tiers 3 and 4 restructure.

It provides a financial position highlighting the overall savings that may be achieved as a result of granting the requests of the five members of staff.

It outlines that in the case of two of the posts, the final decision rests with full Council due to the cost of the individual exit packages exceeding £100,000.  Appendix 2 to be considered under agenda item 11 in Part 2 of this agenda.  (Appendix C)

Chief Executive Performance Appraisal

The purpose of this report is to seek approval to an appraisal process for the Chief Executive in line with the guidance laid out within the JNC Handbooks for Chief Executives (Appendix 2).

The report offers a defined process for appraisal for the Committee to consider and agree (Appendix D).

To consider such other urgent business as, in the opinion of the Chair, should, by reason of special circumstances, be considered as a matter of urgency.

It is expected that matters included in this part of the Agenda will be dealt with in private.  Reports referred to are enclosed for members and officers only, coloured pink and marked "Not for Publication".

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:-?

Agenda Item          Paragraph of Part I of Schedule 12A

10 and 11               1 and 2

                              Information relating to any individual and information which is likely to reveal the identity of an individual.

AND                       The public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the interest in disclosure because disclosure would adversely affect the Authority’s interests.?

Senior Management Restructure Proposal

To consider the attached Appendix 1 under Agenda item 4 in Part 1 of this agenda.

Restructure of Tiers 3 and 4 – Consequential Redundancies

To consider the attached Appendix 2 under Agenda item 6 in Part 1 of this agenda.