Members are asked to consider whether they have any disclosable pecuniary and / or any other relevant interest, in connection with the item 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 Ann McLachlan 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 interview the short listed candidates for this post.

The Panel received feedback from officers and Amanda Riley of Penna on the views of the Children’s Panel, the Stakeholder Panel, and Leadership Panel and from those Members who had met the two candidates during the morning (candidate number 6 having withdrawn from the process).

The Panel considered whether both candidates should be invited to attend for final interview that afternoon and on a motion by the Chair, seconded by Councillor Ann McLachlan, it was –

Resolved (unanimously) – That both candidates be invited for final interview.

At 1.30pm the Panel then adjourned.

The Panel reconvened at 3.30pm.

Having interviewed the two short listed candidates, it was moved by the Chair, seconded by Councillor Ann McLachlan, and then –

Resolved (unanimously) – That Simone White, currently Senior Her Majesty’s Inspector Ofsted, be appointed to the post of Deputy Director: Children’s Care Services.