Agenda item

1.     The purpose of this report is to confirm and set out to the Staff and Appointments Committee the outcome of the selection process for the Chief Fire Officer and Director of Public Protection and to seek approval for the appointment of the preferred candidate. The outcome of the selection process for the Head of Legal and the Head of Member Services and Elections following the Tier 3 & 4 restructure. Attached to this report is a confidential (part 2) exempt Appendix 1 (a,b,c), setting out the applications of the preferred candidates.

2.     The Committee will recall at its meeting on 25 April 2023, that arrangements for the permanent recruitment to the Chief Fire Officer role was agreed. The meeting of 25 April 2023 provided arrangements for the permanent recruitment of the Head of Legal and Head of Member Services and Elections that were also agreed.

3.     This report also reminds the Committee of the requirements under the Officer Employment Procedure Rules in relation to the appointment (or dismissal) of all Chief and Deputy Chief Officers. Accordingly, please note that the appointments referred to in this report is 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 Employment Procedure Rules).

Members received a report seeking agreement to the proposed appointment of the Chief Fire Officer and Director of Public Protection, Head of Legal Services and Head of Member Services and Election which had been approved as part of the agreed senior management restructure. 

The Chief Executive and Head of Paid Services, Helen Paterson, introduced the report to committee. The report outlined the thorough process taken to appoint the candidates. The Chief Executive emphasised that the assessments for each post were appropriate and thorough. They thanked the current Chief Fire Officer for attending the assessments for that role as it helped them greatly.

All three appointees had undergone extensive assessment including lumina assessment to ensure that those appointed aligned with the values and behaviours embedded in the Council.

Members expressed that they were pleased with the appointments being proposed. There had been lots of engagement with Members and it was felt that the consultation process had been thorough. Members were pleased with the progress of appointments made in line with the Best Delivery programme. They were keen to get the values embedded as quickly as possible and they were confident the new appointments would assist with this.

At this point it was RESOLVED 

(1)    That under Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting during the remainder of the discussion on this item as it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A of the 1972 Act, and?

(2)    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

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9                        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.

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Members then discussed the salary arrangement for the appointees. It was confirmed that the posts had gone through a job evaluation and the banding was appropriate to provide the necessary incentive to the candidates.

It was then RESOLVED to readmit the press and public to the meeting. 

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

RESOLVED that the following recommendations be agreed:

(1)    To accept the findings of the selection panels that the preferred candidate be appointed to the role of Chief Fire Officer and Director of Public Protection. Details are set out in the attached confidential appendix 1a.

(2)    To accept the findings of the selection panels that the preferred candidate be appointed to the role of Head of Legal Services. Details are set out in the attached confidential appendix 1b.

(3)    To accept the findings of the selection panels that the preferred candidate be appointed to the role of Head of Member Services and Elections. Details are set out in the attached confidential appendix 1c.

(4)    To agree that in the event that any objection is received from the Leader and/or Cabinet that the appointments in question be referred back to this Committee for urgent consideration.

(5)    To note that offers of employment will be subject to all necessary pre-employment checks.

(6)    To note that the effective date of commencement of employment is to be confirmed following all the necessary pre-employment checks.

(7)    To agree that the Chief Fire Officer and Director of Public Protection will align to the National Joint Council for Brigade Managers of Fire And Rescuer Services terms and conditions (‘Gold Book’) with remuneration aligning to NCC pay grade of Band 17, £139,366 SCP 73. This cost excludes employer’s national insurance and employer’s pension contributions.

(8)    To agree that the Head of Legal Services will align to National Joint Council for local government terms and conditions with remuneration at £79,240 (SCP  58) on NCC pay grade of Band 14, which ranges between a salary of £73,511 to £82,100.

(9)    To agree that the Head of Member Services and Elections will align to National Joint Council for local government terms and conditions with remuneration at £79,240 (SCP  58) on NCC pay grade of Band 14, which ranges between a salary of £73,511 to £82,100.