SENIOR MANAGEMENT APPOINTMENT COMMITTEE
Minutes of a meeting held on 14th June, 2017.
Present: Councillor J.W. Thomas (Chairman); Councillor T.H. Jarvie (Vice-Chairman); Councillors L. Burnett, Dr. I.J. Johnson, N. Moore and R.A. Penrose.
Also present: Councillors G.C. Kemp and A.C. Parker (relevant Cabinet Member portfolio holders) (Agenda Item Nos. 4 and 6 respectively).
42 MINUTES -
RESOLVED - T H A T the minutes of the meetings held on 27th April, 2017 be approved as a correct record.
43 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST -
No declarations were received.
44 RECRUITMENT AND SELECTION ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE HEAD OF HOUSING AND BUILDING SERVICES (DEH) –
The Committee was updated on the recruitment and selection arrangements for the above post and to agree a proposal to appoint this post on a temporary basis.
The Director of Environment and Housing apprised Members of progress to date since the matters had previously been considered by the Committee at its meetings held on 27th September, 2016 and 15th December, 2016. He also alluded to the most recent recruitment and selection process which was conducted by the Committee at its meetings held on 16th March, 30th March and 5th April, which culminated in the appointment of the preferred candidate who had initially accepted the role, but subsequently withdrew citing family reasons. He indicated that none of the other candidates interviewed were considered suitable for appointment to the post.
The Director’s attention then turned to outlining the potential options for progressing the filling of the post, or undertaking its main duties and responsibilities and these related in summary to the following:
- Externally advertise the position using the same job description, person specification and salary band
- Externally advertising again for the position using the same job description, person specification but with an increased salary band
- Appoint an external interim manager to the post either via an agency or directly
- Advertise the position internally as it was a secondment opportunity for up to 12 months.
In referring to the above options the Director indicated that there was little or no risk in examining whether any existing staff would be interested in covering the role in full via a secondment opportunity of up to 12 months and went on to refer to the positive aspects for pursuing such a course of action. He considered this approach would enable the role to be advertised at some point in the future and should the secondee be successful during the secondment, then the individual would be more likely to apply for the post on a permanent basis than would otherwise have been the case. In addition, if the secondment was not determined to be successful by either party then it could be quickly withdrawn with the secondee returning to his or her substantive role.
He therefore proposed that the secondment option be progressed and subject to there being sufficient internal interest, technical interviews to identify a shortlist of suitable candidates to the post be conducted by the Director of Environment and Housing in conjunction with the Head of Human Resources.
On the basis of the above, a further report detailing the proposed shortlist would be presented to the Committee for agreement, with the Committee undertaking the final interviews and making an appointment if appropriate.
Any secondment to the post of Head of Housing and Building Services would be for a period of up to 12 months and would be on terms and conditions as prescribed by the Joint Negotiating Committee for Chief Officers for Local Authorities.
The Committee, having deliberated the above options,
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T the post of Head of Housing and Building Services be advertised internally as a temporary secondment opportunity for a period of up to 12 months.
(2) T H A T delegated authority be granted to the Director of Environment and Housing in consultation with the Head of Human Resources to advertise the position and to undertake technical interviews so as to propose a shortlist of candidates for consideration by the Committee.
Reasons for decisions
(1) To provide the best opportunity to appoint to the post in the shortest time period and to ensure the appointment is administered in accordance with the Council’s Constitution.
(2) With the purpose of reducing the time taken to complete the recruitment process.
45 EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC –
RESOLVED – T H A T under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part 4 of Schedule 12A (as amended) of the Act, the relevant paragraphs of the Schedule being referred to in brackets after the minute heading.
46 RECRUITMENT AND SELECTION ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE POSITION OF HEAD OF ADULT SERVICES AND LOCALITY MANAGER (DSS) (EXEMPT INFORMATION – PARAGRAPHS 12, 13 AND 14) –
The Director of Social Services provided an update on the recruitment and selection arrangements for the above post and invited the Committee to confirm a long list of candidates for preliminary assessment and officer interviews.
The Committee was informed that following the approval of the agreed recruitment process for the above post, an advert was placed in Community Care and Wales Online with a closing date of Tuesday, 23rd May, 2017. In addition and enclosed for Members’ information was a copy of the agreed job description and the relevant person specification which were attached at Appendix A and B.
The Director indicated that following the closing date of 23rd May, 2017 seven application forms were received for the above post. These applications were attached to the report at Appendix C for the consideration of the Committee. In addition the Director provided a summary of all the applicants and provided a verbal update on the long listing proposals. Consequently, he was recommending that three of the applicants be long listed.
He indicated that those candidates long listed would be invited to attend an interview of officers and assessment centre on 30th June, 2017. He indicated that the assessment process would help determine the final short list for recommendation to Members and UHB representatives at a meeting of the Joint Advisory Group which would be held on 3rd July, 2017.
Final interviews would be conducted by the Joint Advisory Group on 12th July, 2017.
The Committee, having considered the Director’s recommendations, it was
RESOLVED – T H A T a total of three candidates C, C and D be agreed for progressing to the Assessment Centre with a view to the process assisting determining a final short list for recommendation to the meeting of the Joint Advisory Group on 3rd July, 2017.
Reason for decision
To ensure the appointment, recruitment and selection arrangements to the above post were progressed in accordance with the approval of the Committee and in accordance with the requirements of the Council’s Constitution.