Agenda item

Director of Human Resources.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Human Resources summarising the current position for the recruitment of Senior Officers and discussing methods for greater member involvement in the process.

The Deputy Chairman advised the Committee that he had given this matter significant consideration, and had written to all Members of the Committee to provide them with his proposals for the recruitment of Seniors Officers. He explained that this proposal was that all Chief Officers, Senior Officers reporting directly to the Town Clerk & Chief Executive, or Senior Officers who reported to other Chief Officers, but who acted as the principal advisor to a Committee, Sub-Committee or Working Party should be appointed by panels led by or involving Members.

Members discussed this proposal, and agreed that it was not necessary for all Senior Officers acting as the principal advisor to Sub-Committees or Working Parties to be appointed by panels involving Members, although this would be appropriate for some Sub-Committees or Working Parties.

The Committee discussed the composition of appointment panels, and agreed that it would be the responsibility for the relevant Service Committee to determine the exact composition of panels for each appointment, although it was noted that it was important that panels were kept to a reasonable size to ensure that arrangements for shortlisting and interview sessions were practical. However, it was agreed that the positions for which Member involvement on the Panel was required should be determined by the Establishment Committee through the Senior Officer Recruitment Policy.

The Committee also noted that all Members and Officers involved in the interview panel should be involved in the shortlisting process for applicants.

The Committee thanked the Deputy Chairman for the significant amount of work that he had devoted to this issue.

RESOLVED – That:

a)    The principle of the Senior Officer Recruitment Policy be that the following officers are appointed through a panel led by Members or including Members:

-       Chief Officers

-       Senior Officers reporting directly to the Town Clerk & Chief Executive

-       All Senior Officers reporting to other Chief Officers, but who act as principal advisor to a Grand Committee

-       Senior Officers reporting to other Chief Officers, but who act as principal advisor to certain strategic Sub-Committees or Working Parties (the specific Sub-Committees and Working Parties to be determined).

b)    That the Director of Human Resources submits a Senior Officer Recruitment Policy to the December 2015 meeting of this Committee.