PDF 331 KBVenue: Conference Room A - Cumbria House, Botchergate, Carlisle CA1 1RD
Contact: Jackie Currie Email: jackie.currie@cumbria.gov.uk
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Apologies To receive any apologies for absence. Minutes: Apologies for absence were received from Mrs A Burns (reserve Mr F Morgan) and Dr S Haraldsen (reserve Mr G Ellis).
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Exclusion of Press and Public To consider whether the press and public should be excluded from the meeting during consideration of any item on the agenda. Minutes: RESOLVED, that the press and public be excluded during consideration of Agenda Item No 6 – Appointment of a Chief Legal Officer (Monitoring Officer) by virtue of Paragraph 1 of Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, as this report contains exempt information relating to an individual.
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Disclosures of Interest Members are invited to disclose any disclosable pecuniary interest they have in any item on the agenda which comprises
1 Details of any employment, office, trade, profession or vocation carried on for profit or gain.
2 Details of any payment or provision of any other financial benefit (other than from the authority) made or provided within the relevant period in respect of any expenses incurred by you in carrying out duties as a member, or towards your election expenses. (This includes any payment or financial benefit from a trade union within the meaning of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992.
3 Details of any contract which is made between you (or a body in which you have a beneficial interest) and the authority
(a) Under which goods or services are to be provided or works are to be executed; and
(b) Which has not been fully discharged.
4 Details of any beneficial interest in land which is within the area of the authority.
5 Details of any licence (alone or jointly with others) to occupy land in the area of the authority for a month or longer.
6 Details of any tenancy where (to your knowledge)
(a) The landlord is the authority; and
(b) The tenant is a body in which you have a beneficial interest.
7 Details of any beneficial interest in securities of a body where
(a) That body (to your knowledge) has a place of business or land in the area of the authority; and
(b) Either –
(i) The total nominal value of the securities exceeds £25,000 or one hundredth of the total issued share capital of that body; or
(ii) If that share capital of that body is of more than one class, the total nominal value of the shares of any one class in which the relevant person has a beneficial interest exceeds one hundredth of the total issued share capital of that class.
In addition, you must also disclose other non-pecuniary interests set out in the Code of Conduct where these have not already been registered.
Note
A “disclosable pecuniary interest” is an interest of a councillor or their partner (which means spouse or civil partner, a person with whom they are living as husband or wife, or a person with whom they are living as if they are civil partners). Minutes: There were no disclosures of interest made on this occasion.
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Minutes of Previous Meeting To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 10 September 2021 (copy enclosed)
Minutes: RESOLVED, that the minutes of the previous meeting held on 10 September 2021 be agreed as a true and accurate record.
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Date and Time of Next Meeting The date and time of the next meeting of the Chief Officers Committee will be notified as required.
Minutes: The date and time of the next meeting of the Chief Officers Committee will be notified as required.
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PART II - ITEMS CONSIDERED NOT IN THE PRESENCE OF THE PUBLIC AND PRESS |
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APPOINTMENT OF A CHIEF LEGAL OFFICER (MONITORING OFFICER) To consider a report from the Chief Executive (copy enclosed for members only, Appendix 2 to follow)
Not for publication by virtue of Paragraph(s) 1 of Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, as this report contains exempt information relating to an individual.
Additional documents:
Minutes: Members considered a report from the Chief Executive which recommended that the Committee consider proposed candidates for appointment to the temporary role of Chief Legal Officer (Monitoring Officer).
The current Chief Legal Officer (Monitoring Officer) had resigned and would leave the Council on 5 November 2021. The Chief Officers Committee agreed on 10th September to progress with the appointment of a Chief Legal Officer (Monitoring Officer) on a temporary basis.
This report therefore recommends the appointment of a Chief Legal Officer (Monitoring Officer), on a temporary basis, from date of appointment until 31 May 2023.
Following the external advertisement of the post of temporary Chief Legal Officer (Monitoring Officer) 5 applications were received. 4 applications met the essential application criteria and were progressed to Technical Interview stage.
Technical interviews took place on 5 October and two candidates were successfully progressed to the two-day selection process which took place yesterday and today.
Following the formal interview panel today, with the Chief Officer Committee, utilising psychometric test feedback, it was AGREED that an offer of employment be made to the candidate, where there was no material or ‘well-founded’ objection from any member of the Cabinet.
However, both of the possible candidates would need to provide notice to their current employer if they were successful in appointment, which would leave the Council with a gap between the current postholder leaving and the fixed term appointee starting (until 3rd February 2022, potentially longer if there was a delay in the offer being made).
The Council’s Head of Legal Services had also resigned and would leave employment on 23 December 2021. This would create additional pressure and challenge in terms of continuity of legal support and compliance with all Monitoring Officer statutory processes.
In light of these pressures it was recommended that the Council progressed to appoint a short-term interim to ensure continuity of legal support, for a short-term period to cover the notice period of the successful candidate.
The Chief Officers Committee undertook a panel interview with both shortlisted candidates for the role of Chief Legal Officer (Monitoring Officer).
RESOLVED, that, the Chief Officers Committee
(1) Agreed to recommend the appointment of Edwina Adefehinti as Chief Legal Officer (Monitoring Officer) on a temporary basis, from appointment until 31st May 2023; (2) Agreed to appoint a recommended interim candidate for the role of Chief Legal Officer (pending the commencement of employment of Edwina Adefehinti). |