Agenda, decisions and minutes

Minutes of the meeting held on 20 January 2021, previously circulated.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 20 January 2021 be signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 20 January 2021 be signed as a correct record.

Items which in the opinion of the Chair should be considered at the meeting as a matter of urgency.

There was no item raised as a matter of urgency.

Officers to report on the process for attracting suitable candidates for the above post.

The Committee noted that recruitment process would commence in Part 2 of the meeting.

Recommendation: that the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 1 and 2 of Schedule 12A of the Act namely relating to any individual and information likely to reveal the identity of an individual and in accordance with Section 36 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, by virtue of the fact that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

RESOLVED that the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 1 and 2 of Schedule 12A of the Act namely relating to any individual and information likely to reveal the identity of an individual and in accordance with Section 36 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, by virtue of the fact that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

RESOLVED that the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 1 and 2 of Schedule 12A of the Act namely relating to any individual and information likely to reveal the identity of an individual and in accordance with Section 36 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, by virtue of the fact that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

To interview shortlisted candidate(s) and, if possible, make a recommendation upon an appropriate appointment to the next meeting of the County Council.

Papers attached include

·         Job description for the Head of Children's Social Care; and

·         Report on candidates for the post.

It was RESOLVED that the press and public be now re-admitted to the meeting.

RESOLVED that the Council be recommended to appoint Lisa Bursill to the post of Deputy Chief Officer, Childrens Social Care and to appoint Janet Fraser to the post of Deputy Chief Officer – Head of Children’s Health and Wellbeing. Both posts are graded L3 and the appointments, if approved, to commence at the earliest opportunity on a mutually convenient date, in line with the provisions of the Council’s existing approved Pay Policy Statement.

RESOLVED that the Committee endorse the commencement of a recruitment process for the post of County Treasurer, at the same level as is currently the case.

The Committee undertook interviews for the post of Head of Children's Social Care with a view to making a recommendation upon an appropriate appointment to the County Council on 22 July 2021.

The process had been undertaken in line with the terms of reference of the Appointments, Remuneration and Chief Officer Conduct Committee, the Pay Policy Statement and the Chief Officer Employment Procedure Rules (set out at Part 6 of the Constitution).

This latest recruitment process for the post of Deputy Chief Officer, Children’s Social Care had resulted in two candidates being considered by the Appointments, Remuneration and Chief Officer Conduct Committee at the final stage of the process. Both candidates were of very high calibre and both were assessed by the Committee as being appointable.  

During the debate, Members of the Committee discussed the merits of accelerating a proposal that was currently being finalised by the Chief Executive to create an additional leadership post, at Head of Service level, reporting to the Chief Officer for Children’s Services.  This new post would be the Deputy Chief Officer – Head of Children’s Health and Wellbeing.     

The Committee also recalled that the Council had been unsuccessful in recruiting to the Head of Children’s Social Care Leadership post previously. They further discussed that in view of the importance of attracting strong candidates and the current position of Devon on its ‘improvement journey’ provided a compelling rationale for the Committee to take the pragmatic decision to endorse the creation of the additional leadership post to consider the appointable candidates for.

The interviews having been completed and the suitability of the candidates for the post having been fully discussed and all relevant factors having been considered, such as the very high level and breadth of experience and responsibility required for the roles and the Committee then being of the view that the press and public need no longer be excluded from the meeting for final determination of its recommendation to the County Council:

It was RESOLVED that the press and public be now re-admitted to the meeting.

The Chief Executive then took the opportunity to brief the Committee on the impending retirement of the current County Treasurer and confirmed the Council wished to commence recruitment to the role.

It was MOVED by Councillor Hart and SECONDED by Councillor Connett, and

RESOLVED that the Council be recommended to appoint Lisa Bursill to the post of Deputy Chief Officer, Childrens Social Care and to appoint Janet Fraser to the post of Deputy Chief Officer – Head of Children’s Health and Wellbeing. Both posts are graded L3 and the appointments, if approved, to commence at the earliest opportunity on a mutually convenient date, in line with the provisions of the Council’s existing approved Pay Policy Statement.

It was further MOVED by Councillor Hart and duly SECONDED by Councillor Hannaford, and

RESOLVED that the Committee endorse the commencement of a recruitment process for the post of County Treasurer, at the same level as is currently the case.