Members are asked to consider whether they have any disclosable pecuniary and / or any other relevant interest, in connection with any item(s) on this agenda and, if so, to declare them and state the nature of the interest.

Members of the Panel were requested to declare whether they had any disclosable pecuniary interests and/or any other relevant interest in the item on this agenda and, if so, to declare it and state the nature of such interest.

No such declarations were made.

The public may be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information.

RECOMMENDATION – That in accordance with section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item of business, on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined by paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A (as amended) to that Act. The public interest test has been applied and favours exclusion.

On a motion by the Chair, seconded by Councillor G Davies it was -

Resolved - That, under section 100 (A) (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined by paragraph 1 of Part I of Schedule 12A (as amended) to that Act.

To decide upon a shortlist of candidates for this post.

The Chair updated the Panel on the process. He informed the meeting that he and the Deputy Leader, Councillor McLachlan and the Deputy Leader of the Labour Group, Councillor George Davies had welcomed and met with the 11 long listed candidates at the Floral Pavilion in the previous week though they had taken no part in the technical assessments. These were carried out by Johnathan Swain, from the recruitment consultants, Penna, along with Gill Taylor from the Local Government Association.

Johnathan Swain then outlined the process of the technical assessments and gave details of the questions which had been asked.

The Panel then considered, in turn, which of the 11 candidates should be short listed for the next stage of the selection process for the post of Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service.

Councillor Green again expressed concerns at those candidates who had taken or who may have taken EVR or a voluntary severance payment going forward to the next stage of the process and also concerns about candidates from Local Authorities which had very recently experienced publicity regarding poor external reports.

The Chair reminded the Panel that the next stage of the process was for a short list for the first of two selection days, with an option of de-selection at the Employment and Appointments Panel at the end of day one (5 February) before the final interview stage on 6 February.

On a motion by the Chair, seconded by Councillor McLachlan, it was –

Resolved (unanimously) – That the following five candidates be short listed to attend the selection day on Thursday, 5 February – candidate numbers 3, 4, 8, 11 and 12.