Agenda and minutes

Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on Tuesday, 25 April 2023, as circulated, to be confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chair.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 25 April 2023, as circulated, 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.

Councillor S. Dickinson declared an interest relating to the three NHS posts.  He had received advice from the Monitoring Officer that his relationship with them was so remote that there was no conflict of interest.

Councillor M. Purvis declared an interest as he worked for the NHS, but there was no conflict of interest.

1.     The purpose of this report is to seek agreement to the proposed appointment of a number of named Chief and Deputy Chief Officers in roles which have been approved as part of the agreed senior management restructure. 

2.     The Committee will recall that at its meeting on 25 April 2023, arrangements for the filling these roles was agreed and that proposed postholders Chief and Deputy Chief Officer roles and roles attracting a salary of £100k or more and will be subject to the approval of StAC at a future meeting of this Committee. 

3.     This report also reminds the Committee of the requirements under the Officer Appointment Procedure Rules in relation to the appointment (or dismissal) of all Chief and Deputy Chief Officers. Accordingly, please note that all the appointments referred to in this report are subject to no substantial and well-founded objections being notified to the Leader of the Council, in accordance with Part 4.3 of the Constitution (Officer Appointment Procedure Rules).

Members received a report seeking agreement to the proposed appointment of a number of named Chief and Deputy Chief Officers in roles which have been approved as part of the agreed senior management restructure. 

Sarah Farrell, Director of Workforce and Organisational Development, reported that following agreement of the new structure at the 25 April 2023, meeting, appointments had been made and the names of officers were listed in the report.  Provided that there were no objections made to the Leader or Cabinet, the new structure would take effect from 1 June 2023.  Most of the posts had been filled via ‘slotting in’ but there would be further recruitment in June/July, with the final appointments being presented to the Committee by the end of July 2023. 

The following comments were made in response to Members’ queries:-

•       The current salary bandings were:-

•       Band 14 - £73,511 - £82,100

•       Band 15 - £85,293 - £93,553

•       Band 16 - £96,416 - £105,006

•       Band 17 - £115,325 - £139,366

•       The salary figures did not include oncosts.

•       The criteria for ‘slotting in’ was that there was at least an 80% match between an officer’s old role and the new.  Their skills, abilities, and potential to meet the role requirements within six months were also considered.

•       Two officers had been found not to have an 80% match; one had been offered a role at a lower salary level but with three-year salary protection, and an alternative role was being sought for the other officer.  If this was unsuccessful, then there would be a redundancy.  Re-deployment opportunities would continue to be sought, however.

•       The Internal Change Consultants posts were on a lower band but subject to 18 months salary protection and this would take them to the end of their fixed term contracts.

•       At the point where a Band 16 officer crossed over £100k, there would be no need to refer it back to the Committee.

•       It was confirmed that the budget allowed for the full cost of the new structure, however, the final costings would not be known until all appointments had been made as it was dependant on the position of officers on the pay scales

It was proposed by Councillor B. Flux and seconded by Councillor R. Wearmouth and agreed unanimously

RESOLVED that

1      the proposals of the Chief Executive in respect of the appointment of named individuals to the Chief and Deputy Chief Officer roles be approved.

2      in the event that any objection is received from the Leader and/or Cabinet that the appointment in question be referred back to the Staff and Appointments Committee for urgent consideration.

3      confirmation of appointments to individuals will be made immediately and the new management structure will go live on 1 June 2023

The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, 3 July 2023, at 10.00 am in the Council Chamber, County Hall, Morpeth.

The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, 3 July 2023, at 10.00 am in the Council Chamber, County Hall, Morpeth.