Members are asked to consider whether they have disclosable pecuniary interests and/or any other 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 Sub Committee were asked to declare any disclosable pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests, in connection with any item on the agenda and state the nature of the interest.

No such declarations were made.

The following item contains exempt information.

RECOMMENDATION:  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 paragraphs 1 and 3 of Part I of Schedule 12A (as amended) to that Act. The Public Interest test has been applied and favours exclusion.

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.  The Public Interest Test had been applied and favoured exclusion.

The Chief Executive submitted a report for Members that sought agreement from the Senior Officer and Staffing Appointments Sub Committee to some changes to the Council’s Chief Officer structure and to commence recruitment to a number of posts as appropriate.

The Sub Committee expressed their thanks to the current Director of Children’s Services, Paul Boyce, in advance of his pending retirement in March 2021, for all his work since taking up the post in 2017 and for leading the service out of a position of intervention following the inadequate Ofsted rating in 2016.

Members requested a change to the wording within the recommendation; “position on a temporary basis” to read “for a temporary period of twelve months or as required”.

On a motion by Councillor Yvonne Nolan, seconded by Councillor Wendy Clements, it was -

Resolved (unanimously) – That the Sub Committee:

a) Note the position in relation to the current Chief Officer structure and the recruitment that has been undertaken since the structure was agreed in March 2020.

b) Note the position in relation to the recruitment to the post of Assistant Director: Education.

c) Agree the proposals set out in the report in relation to the current Chief Officer structure, namely:

1) Commence internal recruitment to the statutory Director of Children (DCS) position for a temporary period of twelve months or as required.

2) Change the grade and renumeration of the DCS reflecting the change to the scope of the role in line with statutory duties and a focus on continued improvement.

3) Commence internal recruitment to the redesigned Assistant Director: Change position on a permanent basis.