Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillors Bridgett, Cessford, Darwin, Grimshaw and Simpson.

Minutes of the meeting of County Council held on Wednesday 18 January 2023, as circulated, to be confirmed as a true record, signed by the Business Chair and sealed with the Common Seal of the Council (see pages 13-22).

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of County Council held on Wednesday 18 January 2023, as circulated, be confirmed as a true record, signed by the Business Chair and sealed with the Common Seal of the Council.

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.

The Business Chair welcomed Dr Helen Paterson to her first meeting as Chief Executive and advised members that there would be a two minute silence on Friday to mark the first anniversary of the Ukrainian invasion.

The Leader reported that consultation on Devolution was going very well. A series of meetings were taking place across the County which would build up a full consultation picture. He also welcomed Dr Paterson to her first meeting.

The Business Chair then advised that he would be moving Member Questions (item 6 on the agenda) to the end. This would allow Council more time on the budget papers, which would be dealt with first, before returning to agenda item 8.

to be put to the Business Chair, a member of the Cabinet or the Chair of any Committee or Sub Committee, in accordance with the Constitution’s Rules of Procedure No.9

Question 1 from Councillor Purvis to the Leader

Given the challenges is Adult Social Care and Northumberland residents feeding back it was the one of the most concerned areas for them, could the Leader clarify how he plans to make millions of pounds worth of cuts without affecting care?

Response from Councillor Pattison

Through this Budget, we are significantly increasing the budget for Adult Social Care by 16% (from £111m to £129m (net)) because the Council is committed to tackling inequalities and helping people most in need. That delivers on what residents told us in the Budget consultation. None of the proposals would lead to people being denied care which they have been assessed as needing. In fact, the budget proposes many positive things such as continuing the scheme we introduced last year to pay the Real Living Wage to care services workers because the Council is committed to good-quality jobs.

The main saving included in the adult social care budget is based on continuing the programme in which a specialist team reviews existing individual care plans to ensure that the risks to people with complex needs are being managed in a way which doesn’t restrict their independence any more than is necessary.? This is not about reducing the volume of services to individual clients where that service is required to meet their assessed needs.??However, it does lead to better value for money in the use of resources in Adult Services.

Councillor Purvis referred to the £1.1m efficiency in vacant posts. This was a significant figure and demonstrated the problems in recruiting and retaining staff. He asked what more could be done to attract staff like care assistants and social workers, such as increasing the ?hourly wage rate. Councillor Pattison noted these concerns.

Question 2 from Councillor Nisbet to the Leader

Does the Leader of Council realise how much a Council House rent increase of 7% will affect the most vulnerable in Northumberland’s Communities?

Response from Councillor Horncastle

Having good-quality Council Homes for rent is a vital part of delivering on the Council’s tackling inequalities priority.  That means we are committed to maintaining existing services to tenants, carrying out essential maintenance, meeting regulatory obligations as well as building new, affordable homes. And, to do all that we have to increase rents. We are not alone in this, for example Newcastle City Council have increased rents by 7% for their tenants, and Karbon Homes have also just announced a 7% increase in their rents.

However, just over 70% of our tenants are in receipt of benefits which will increase to offset the proposed increase in rent. They will also be able to claim Discretionary Housing Payments should they experience financial difficulties.??And, for those tenants who don't receive any benefits and may experience difficulties paying rent as a result of this increase, we are proposing a hardship fund of £350,000.

Alongside this, the Housing Operations team will continue to provide support and advice on welfare benefits and debt to help  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

Budget Consultation 2023-24

This report provides a summary of results of the budget consultation undertaken between 6th December 2022 and 17th January 2023. The budget consultation helps to inform the Council’s Budget and Medium-Term Financial Plan.

Budget Consultation 2023-24

This report provided a summary of results of the budget consultation undertaken between 6th December 2022 and 17th January 2023. The budget consultation helped to inform the Council’s Budget and Medium-Term Financial Plan.

The Leader presented this report. He felt the consultation had gone well. People could not be forced to respond but all members had had the opportunity to get involved. In the Spring he would be discussing with the Chief Executive a policy conference on the corporate plan and the Council’s priorities so all members could have a discussion on it. He moved the report, which was seconded by Councillor Wearmouth.

Councillor Dunn felt that 209 responses was poor, and showed that the Council’s engagement plan was not working. Presenting the budget at LACs was not engaging with residents as residents would only turn up to those meetings if there was a controversial planning application on the agenda. Other Councils held traditional face to face consultation and she felt more effort should be put into meeting with residents.

The Leader did not agree that the Council could be doing more and the suggestion disregarded the efforts of officers on the consultation. His Administration had done consultation in the last three years and he was aware of only one other consultation which had been undertaken in the last 13 years. He assured members he was trying as hard as he could on this but was always happy to look at other options.

RESOLVED that the summary results of the budget consultation undertaken between 6th December 2022 and 17th January 2023 as well as wider engagement undertaken be noted.

Budget 2023-24 and Medium-Term Financial Plan 2023-27 for the Housing Revenue Account

The report seeks Council approval for the updated Budget 2023-24, Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) 2023-27 and 30-year Business plan for the Housing Revenue Account (HRA).

The Chair then advised that he was taking items 9 and 10 together. For ease of reference, officers had consolidated the recommendations from the original report and the update report, and these had been circulated in the Chamber. 

Budget 2023-24 and Medium-Term Financial Plan 2023-27 and Update to the Budget 2023-24 and Medium-Term Financial Plan 2023-27 Report

The report provided the Revenue Budget for 2023-24 and Revenue Medium-Term Financial Plan (MTFP) 2023-27 and the Capital Budget for 2023-24 and Capital MTFP 2023-27, following the Government’s Autumn Statement on 17 November 2022, and the publication of the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement on 19 December 2022. The update report updated members with matters relating to the Budget 2023-24 which had arisen following publication of the report which was presented to the all-Member Corporate Services and Economic Growth Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 13 February 2023 and then Cabinet on 14 February 2023.

The Leader thanked all staff throughout the Council for all of their work. The Administration had a big responsibility to do its best for residents and staff and to provide value for money. The budget priorities had been guided by the three key priorities. In the face of rising inflation, this budget had been difficult to manage and he was grateful to the S151 Officer and her staff for their help with this.

The key issue had been to protect frontline services so there would be no cuts in these areas, nor to the leisure centre programme or school building programme, or school support team to build on the improving Ofsted results. The care provided to older people would continue, and the budget contained additional support for this service. He detailed many other areas of support for services and highlighted the £3m pa for the next three years, (if needed) allocated to the strategic change programme which should deliver £17m per year savings on a recurrent basis. Tackling inequalities remained one the of the Administration’s key priorities and showed how seriously this was being taken with the signing of the Compact and investment overall of £2m to support various initiatives.

The proposed Council Tax rise of around 4% in a time of much higher inflation showed that the Administration was keen to get things working. The hardship fund and council tax support mechanism would help those who most needed it. He moved the report’s recommendations, which was seconded by Councillor Wearmouth.

A number of questions were asked which included:-

·       Councillor Kennedy asked how much the average Band D property council Tax would rise by. Councillor Wearmouth advised that this was set out on Page 17 of the report and was £87.91.

·       Councillor Morphet asked why there was nothing in the capital programme this year for U and C roads. He asked if the proposed cut to the member small schemes programme would be reinstated between now and 2025 and he asked if it was correct that £800,000 was being taken from the EV charger installation budget. The Leader  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

Budget 2023-24 and Medium-Term Financial Plan 2023-27

The report provides the Revenue Budget for 2023-24 and Revenue Medium-Term Financial Plan (MTFP) 2023-27 and the Capital Budget for 2023-24 and Capital MTFP 2023-27, following the Government’s Autumn Statement on 17 November 2022, and the publication of the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement on 19 December 2022. It is important to note that there may need to be some revisions to the figures following receipt of the Government’s February 2023 Final Local Government Finance Settlement figures. It is proposed that any changes to the figures as a result of this announcement, which impact on the Budget 2023-24 and MTFP 2023-27 are delegated to the Council’s Section 151 Officer in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Services.

Update to the Budget 2023-24 and Medium-Term Financial Plan 2023-27 Report

The purpose of this report is to update Members with matters relating to the Budget 2023-24 which have arisen following publication of the report which was presented to the all-Member Corporate Services and Economic Growth Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 13 February 2023 and then Cabinet on 14 February 2023.

Council Tax 2023-24

The report provided Council Members with the financial information to enable the Council to calculate and set the Council Tax for 2023-24.

Councillor Wearmouth moved the recommendations, which was seconded by Councillor Jackson. On the recommendations being put to the vote there voted FOR: 29 as follows:-

AGAINST: 20 as follows:

ABSTENTIONS: 8 as follows:

1.              County CouncilRESOLVED

a.             That the Council Tax Requirement for the Council’s own purposes for 2023-24 (excluding Parish Precepts) is £218,689,232;

b.             That the following amounts be calculated for 2023-24 in accordance with Sections 31 to 36 of the Act: 

               i.Being the aggregate amount of gross expenditure which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31 A (2) of the Act taking into account all precepts issued to it by parish councils: £858,904,271. 

              ii.Being the aggregate of the gross income which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31 A (3) of the Act: £629,921,180. 

             iii.Being the amount by which the aggregate at (b) i) above exceeds the aggregate at (b) ii) above, calculated by the Council in accordance with Section 31 A (4) of the Act as its Council Tax requirement for the year.  (Item R in the formula in Section 31B of the Act) (including Parish Precepts): £228,983,091. 

            iv.Being the amount at (b) iii) above (Item R), all divided by Item T, above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 31B of the Act as the basic amount of its Council Tax at Band D for the year (including Parish Precepts): £2,078.79. 

              v.Being the aggregate amount of all special items referred to in Section 34 (1) of the Act (total all Parish Precepts): £10,297,521. 

            vi.Being the amount at (b) iv) above less the result given by dividing the amount at (b) v) above by Item T, above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 34 (2) of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax at Band D for the year for dwellings in those parts of its area to which no Parish Precept relates: £1,985.30;

c.              That the Council Tax for 2023-24, excluding the Police Precept, will be increased by 4.99% (including the Adult Social Care Precept of 2.00%), equating to a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

Council Tax 2023-24

To provide Council Members with the financial information to enable the Council to calculate and set the Council Tax for 2023-24 ( see pages 23-44).

Revenues and Benefits Policies for 2023-24

The report updated Members on the policies governing the administration of Revenues and Benefits and sought approval for the updates and amendments highlighted.

The recommendations were moved by Councillor Wearmouth and seconded by Councillor Reid.

Councillor Morphet asked about the second homes council tax premium applying to properties which were let in a furnished state between tenants. Some landlords relied on the income from their second homes which they used exclusively for rental purposes and would struggle to pay 200% council tax when they were struggling to find a tenant. He asked if the premium would disadvantage landlords like those.

Councillor Swinbank asked, in relation to this, whether an impact assessment would be done to determine whether the aim of reducing the shift in emphasis from principal residences to second homes had been achieved in the longer term.

Councillor Wearmouth responded that this depended on what was meant by impact but this was a valid question. It could be measured through council tax collection figures and he agreed that it would be sensible to understand the impact more generally.

In response to Councillor Morphet’s question on second homes, the S151 Officer advised that by definition, there was no residence, so this would not apply to properties which had been let. Furnished lets for periods between tenants did come under this definition but the guidance was not very clear on this point so the detail in the Bill would need to be checked.

Councillor Hunter asked if there would be financial support available to areas where there were a high number of second homes which had suffered as a result of this. Councillor Wearmouth said this could be looked at, but it would depend on what income came in.

Other queries were raised by members on the second homes premium and the definition of second homes which could not be answered at this stage until the Bill was issued. Members were generally supportive of it.

Councillor Kennedy asked whether the income could be ring fenced for a specific purpose rather than it just being put into the general fund. Councillor Wearmouth responded that this was a debate to be had for a future budget.

On the recommendations being put to the vote by show of hands, the votes were cast as FOR: a substantial majority; AGAINST: 2; ABSTENTIONS:0.

RESOLVED that:-

(a)      the Revenues and Benefits Policies attached as Appendix 1 to Appendix 9 be approved;

(b)      Council approve (subject to the Levelling-Up and Regeneration Bill receiving Royal Assent by 31 March 2023) implementing the 100% Empty Homes premium after one year from 1 April 2024; and

(c)      Council approve (subject to the Levelling-Up and Regeneration Bill receiving Royal Assent by 31 March 2023) implementing a 100% premium for second homes to increase the council tax charge to 200% from 1 April 2024.

Revenues and Benefits Policies for 2023-24

The purpose of this report is to update Members on the policies governing the administration of Revenues and Benefits and seek approval for the updates and amendments highlighted.

Council Tax Discretionary Discount and Council Tax Support Hardship Schemes 2023-24

The report proposed that Members implement:

a)       a one-off discount equivalent to a 1.00% reduction in Band D council tax (Northumberland County Council element of council tax only) for households that do not receive Council Tax Support (subject to a number of exclusions shown at paragraph 4.9). The discount will be equivalent to £17.21 in 2023-24 and will be applied to council tax bills once all other discounts have been applied.

b)       a Council Tax Support Hardship Scheme for 2023-24 where a reduction of up to £175 will be made to council tax bills for all working age Council Tax Support claimants; and those pensionable age Council Tax Support claimants that do not receive 100.00% Council Tax Support, once all other discounts have been applied.

c)       These reductions to the council tax bills will be made in order to alleviate financial hardship and cushion the impact of the Government’s recommended 2.99% council tax increase.

d)       The discount and hardship payments will be funded from the surplus remaining in the Collection Fund Smoothing Reserve which the Council was required to set aside as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. It is proposed that a reserve entitled Council Tax Support Hardship and Discretionary Discount Schemes Reserve is created to cover the cost of these schemes.

The recommendations were moved by Councillor Wearmouth and seconded by the Leader.

A number of questions and comments were made including:-

•         Councillor Robinson asked if residents would have to claim or would the discounts be applied automatically. Members were informed that both discounts would be automatic.

•         Councillor Morphet asked about the transfer of £6.6m into a dedicated reserve to cover the three expenses identified. The S151 Officer replied that she was estimating what the cost would be at the moment but the proposal was to transfer the whole of the balance into a separate reserve to fund the schemes. If there was money left in the reserve at the end of the year, that would be for Council to decide how it should be used.

•         Councillor Dickinson welcomed any support scheme for residents and to help those most in need.

•         Councillor Reid remarked he would have preferred a plan for an alternative use of this funding rather than it being used to discount council tax bills.

•         Councillor Hill supported the proposals and suggested that it would be helpful to see details of what town and parish councils spent their precept on, as there were cases where the majority of it went on staffing and administration. 

On the recommendations being put to the vote by show of hands, the votes were cast as FOR: a substantial majority; AGAINST: 2; ABSTENTIONS:0.

It was therefore RESOLVED:-

(a )     Council agree a Council Tax Support Hardship Scheme, where a reduction of up to £175 is made to council tax bills for all working age Council Tax Support claimants, once all other discounts have been applied.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

Council Tax Discretionary Discount and Council Tax Support Hardship Schemes 2023-24

The purpose of this report is to propose that Members implement:

a)       a one-off discount equivalent to a 1.00% reduction in Band D council tax (Northumberland County Council element of council tax only) for households that do not receive Council Tax Support (subject to a number of exclusions shown at paragraph 4.9). The discount will be equivalent to £17.21 in 2023-24 and will be applied to council tax bills once all other discounts have been applied.

b)       a Council Tax Support Hardship Scheme for 2023-24 where a reduction of up to £175 will be made to council tax bills for all working age Council Tax Support claimants; and those pensionable age Council Tax Support claimants that do not receive 100.00% Council Tax Support, once all other discounts have been applied.

c)       These reductions to the council tax bills will be made in order to alleviate financial hardship and cushion the impact of the Government’s recommended 2.99% council tax increase.

d)       The discount and hardship payments will be funded from the surplus remaining in the Collection Fund Smoothing Reserve which the Council was required to set aside as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. It is proposed that a reserve entitled Council Tax Support Hardship and Discretionary Discount Schemes Reserve is created to cover the cost of these schemes.

Budget 2023-24 and Medium-Term Financial Plan 2023-27 for the Housing Revenue Account

The report sought Council approval for the updated Budget 2023-24, Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) 2023-27 and 30-year Business plan for the Housing Revenue Account (HRA).

The recommendations were moved by Councillor Wearmouth and were seconded by Councillor Watson and Councillor Wearmouth detailed the key points.

Councillor Dickinson asked, of the 70% of residents who received council rent benefit, was that 100% of their rent, or was it 70% up to the cap, and did the rise of 7% take many people up to the cap position. The Head of Housing advised that those receiving benefits would either be getting 100% now or partial contribution to the rent so the rental increase would still qualify for additional benefits so there would be no adverse impact on those residents. Regarding the 30% of tenants who did not have housing benefit or universal credit, they may be impacted by virtue of them moving up to those benefit areas. At this point in time, he could not provide a definitive answer. The granular detail of residents’ income was not held within the Authority but the uptake of the hardship fund would be monitored.

Councillor Reid commented he could not support a 7% rise when the Government had told local authorities to reduce rents by 1% and he did not agree that tenants should pay for a mistake the Government had made. He queried the Deputy Leader’s introductory comments on the report that the affordable homes target could not be met if the rents were not raised and felt this was wrong.

Councillor Horncastle reported that there would be some in depth training for members on affordable housing as it was a complex subject.

Councillor Hill reiterated the need for more social housing.

On the recommendations being put to the vote there voted FOR: 30; AGAINST: 20; ABSTENTIONS: 2.

RESOLVED that:-

(a )     Council approve the Housing Revenue Account 2023-24 budget as detailed within Appendix 1, which will reduce the balance on the HRA reserve from £29.809 million at 31 March 2023, to £29.121 million at 31 March 2024; and note the indicative budgets to 2026-27 which will reduce the balance of the HRA reserve to £9.294 million;

(b )     Council note that from 1 April 2023, due to current rises in inflation, the government has imposed a rent cap on social housing rent increases of 7.0%, moving away for one year from the previously agreed Rent Standard of consumer price index (CPI) +1.0% (11.1%). The budget detailed in Appendix 1 assumes that rents will rise by the revised Government capped rate of 7.0%, with recoverable service charges rising by CPI 10.10% plus 1.0% for the period 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024;

(c )     Council approve the increase of 7.0% for Housing rents from 1 April 2023;

(d )     Council approve the increase of 11.1% for Housing Service Charges from 1 April 2023;

(e )     Council approve  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

Political Proportionality

To determine the political proportionality of the registered political groups on the council and to allocate seats on committees in accordance with that proportionality in accordance with the provisions of Sections 15 and 16 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 (see pages 45-52).

Political Proportionality

Council was asked to determine the political proportionality of the registered political groups on the council and to allocate seats on committees in accordance with that proportionality in accordance with the provisions of Sections 15 and 16 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.

Councillor Wearmouth moved the report’s recommendations which was seconded by Councillor Reid.

RESOLVED that:-

(a )     Council note that following the notification by the Independent Group Leader of changes to the number in the Independent group, the total number of councillors in each political group on the County Council was now Conservative 33, Labour 20, Independent 7, Liberal Democrat 4, Green 2 and 1 un-grouped member;

(b )     Council confirm that the political proportionality of the Groups was as follows: Conservative 49.25%, Labour 29.85%, Independent 10.45%, Liberal Democrat 5.97%, Green 2.99% and un-grouped 1.49%;

(c )     Council agree to continue to use the method for determining allocations to Committees as agreed by Full Council at its meeting of 30 March 2022;

(d )     Council approve the provisions of Appendix 1 which set out the proportional allocation of places on committees in accordance with the proportionality approved above;

(e )     Council agree the allocation of seats to Northumberland County principal/decision making Committees set out in Appendix 2 to the report;

(f )      Council agree allocations to advisory/non-decision-making committees set out in Appendix 3 to this report; and

(g )     Council agree that Group Leaders will appoint members to fill the committee places allocated to their respective Groups and agree that Group Leaders will provide a finalised list of members for each committee (in line with their respective allocations) to the Monitoring Officer to fill the allocated positions.

Approval of Voluntary Redundancy Requests

This report asks Council to receive and consider the report and the recommendations of the Staff and Appointments Committee in respect of approving two voluntary redundancies.

The Staff and Appointments Committee are due to meet on 20 February 2023 and due to the timings it is not possible to include their recommendations in advance of deadlines for papers to be submitted. The report outlining their recommendations will be submitted prior to the Council meeting.

The link to the full report to be considered by Staff and Appointments Committee is included in the report. It outlines a number of Voluntary Redundancy requests that are recommended to be progressed as they are linked to the tier 3 & 4 restructure. County Council only needs to approve those where the exit package exceeds £100,000, of which there are two (see pages 53-56).

Approval of Voluntary Redundancy Requests

The report asked Council to receive and consider the report and the recommendations of the Staff and Appointments Committee in respect of approving two voluntary redundancies. The Staff and Appointments Committee met on 20 February 2023 and due to the timings it was not possible to include their recommendations in advance of deadlines for papers to be submitted. The report outlining their recommendations had been circulated to all members in the Chamber (copy attached to the sealed minutes).

The report’s recommendations were moved by the Leader and seconded by Councillor Watson.

RESOLVED that Council approve the recommendation from the Staff and Appointments Committee held on 20 February 2023 to grant the voluntary redundancy requests of:

(a )     the Director of Housing and Public Protection, Mr Philip Soderquest; and

(b )     the Revenues and Benefits Manager, Mr Graeme Barnes.

Delegated Decision - Capital investment for Schools Broadband service improvement

To inform Council of a delegated decision made by the Council’s s151 Officer and Executive Director of Finance under the Budget and Policy Framework Procedure Rules (see pages 57-72).

Delegated Decision - Capital investment for Schools Broadband service improvement

The report informed Council of a delegated decision made by the Council’s s151 Officer and Executive Director of Finance under the Budget and Policy Framework Procedure Rules.

RESOLVED that the delegated decision be noted.

Council is requested to appoint a Chair of Communities and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee in place of Councillor Reid.

Council was requested to appoint a Chair of Communities and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee in place of Councillor Reid.

Councillor Nick Oliver was nominated by the Leader and seconded by Councillor J. Watson.

RESOLVED that Councillor Oliver be elected Chair of the Communities and Place OSC

Appointment of the Preferred Candidate for the Position of Executive Director of Transformation & Resources and S151 Officer

In accordance with the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) Regulations 2001, matters relating to the appointment of a Section 151 Officer are reserved to the Full Council. The purpose of this report is to consider the recommendation of the Staff and Appointments Committee held on 30 January 2023 to appoint Jan Willis to the role of Executive Director – Transformation & Resources and Section 151 Officer (S151) (see pages 73-78).

Appointment of the Preferred Candidate for the Position of Executive Director of Transformation & Resources and S151 Officer

In accordance with the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) Regulations 2001, matters relating to the appointment of a Section 151 Officer are reserved to the Full Council. The report asked members to consider the recommendation of the Staff and Appointments Committee held on 30 January 2023 to appoint Jan Willis to the role of Executive Director – Transformation & Resources and Section 151 Officer (S151).

The Leader proposed the report’s recommendations, which was seconded by Councillor Oliver.

RESOLVED that

(a )     Council approve the recommendations from the Staff and Appointments Committee held on 30th January 2023 to permanently appoint Jan Willis to the role of Executive Director – Transformation & Resources and Section 151 Officer;

(b )     Council note that the Staff and Appointments Committee has agreed that the renumeration for the post of Executive Director – Transformation & Resources and Section 151 Officer will be at £162,285 per annum with access to staff benefits in line with all Council employees; and

(c )     Council note the appointment will be subject to the Council’s standard pre-employment checks.