Employment and Appointments Panels – 24 November 2014

Minutes of both Panels are attached.

The Council is requested to agree the recommendations contained in parts (1), (4) and (5) of the resolution of minute 3 of the Panel for the Chief Executive appointment, as follows:

(1)  Wirral Council is the ninth largest metropolitan authority in the country. The current salary of the Chief Executive is not sufficiently competitive given the size and scope of the authority.

Given the external advice from the Local Government Association and Penna Plc, acting recruitment consultants, this Panel recommends to Council, at its meeting on 8 December 2014, that:

(i).  the salary range for the Chief Executive be agreed between  £155,000 - £175,000 per annum; and

(ii).the final salary for the Chief Executive be agreed (within the salary range) by the Employment and Appointments Panel as part of the recruitment process.

(4)  That this Panel recommends to Council at its meeting on 8 December 2014 that David Armstrong be appointed to the position of Acting Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service, with effect from 1 January 2015 until the newly appointed Chief Executive takes up the position, and as Deputy Chief Executive from 8 December to 31 December, 2014.

(5)  That this Panel recommends to Council at its meeting on 8 December 2014, the appointment of Surjit Tour, Head of Legal and Member Services, as Returning Officer and Electoral Registration Officer, and that Joe Blott, Strategic Director: Transformation and Resources is appointed as Deputy Returning Officer and Electoral Registration Officer, both effective from 1 January 2015 until the newly appointed Chief Executive takes up the position.

The Council is further requested to agree the recommendations contained in part (2) of the resolution of minute 3 of the Panel which considered the Director of Resources appointment, as follows:

(2)  That this Panel recommends to Council at its meeting on 8 December 2014 that:

(i).  Tom Sault, Head of Financial Services, be appointed as Acting Section 151 Officer, and Jenny Spick, Finance Manager, as Deputy Acting Section 151 Officer.

(ii).Mike Zammit, Chief Information Officer, be appointed as Acting Senior Information Risk Owner (SIRO).

The fifth matter requiring approval was in relation to the Employment and Appointments Panels and the recommendations at its meeting 24 November 2014 (minute 3 refers).

In relation to Part (1) of the resolution – Employment and Appointments Panel (Chief Executive). Two amendments which had been circulated in advance of the meeting were submitted in accordance with Standing Order 12(1) and (9). It was moved, as follows

Prior to first amendment being introduced Councillor P Gilchrist indicated that the seconder Councillor Chris Carubia had tendered his apologies to the meeting therefore proposed that Councillor Dave Mitchell under Standing Order 7(3) be allowed to second this amendment.

First amendment –

Proposed by Councillor Phil Gilchrist

Seconded by Councillor Dave Mitchell 

“Delete section 1 and replace it with…

Council notes

A)  the detailed comparisons made with other authorities and

B)  the external advice provided by representatives of the Local Government Association and Penna.

Council considers, however,

i) that the work of the Chief Executive in Wirral is supported by a series of Strategic Directors

ii) comparisons made with other authorities should look at the period and the financial  climate in which their  Chief Executives took up their posts

iii) the salary of the Chief Executive should not be more than ten times that of the lowest grade employee

iv) increasing the salary of the Chief Executive at a time when officers are being re-organised and evaluated is inappropriate

v)  increasing the salary to the level proposed sends the wrong message to the workforce and taxpayers.

vi. An in depth performance appraisal of the successful applicant will be undertaken after one year’s employment with a view to determining whether the salary should be enhanced.

In the light of these considerations the proposed salary should be advertised at the present level”

Second amendment -

Proposed by Councillor Jeff Green

Seconded by Councillor Lesley Rennie

“Amend paragraph (1) as follows:

First paragraph:

Delete “The current salary of the Chief Executive is not sufficiently competitive given the size and scope of the authority” from the first paragraph so as to only leave ‘Wirral Council is the ninth largest metropolitan authority in the country.’

Second paragraph

This paragraph be revised to read as follows:

The Council notes the external advice from the Local Government Association

and Penna Plc, acting recruitment consultants, and the Panel’s recommendations with regards to the salary range (£155,000 - £175,000 per annum) and final determination, of the Chief Executive’s salary.

However, Council believes that it is incumbent on councillors of all parties to demonstrate the clear understanding that every pound the Council spends on itself is a pound less it can spend on services for Wirral residents and believes a salary of £175,000 (plus on costs) taking it over £200,000 per annum is unacceptable.

Council is concerned that, at the same time it is being asked to put in place increased transitional pay arrangements for staff who are facing huge salary cuts, Labour councillors appear determined to spend £1 million over the next 5 years on a new Chief Executive without first checking to see if a Chief Executive can be:

(i) shared with another Authority, or

(ii) recruited at the current salary level (£121,807 - £135,341)

Council therefore recommends that the Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development first reports on the progress of these recommendations at the next Employment and Appointments Panel meeting and before any final decision on the salary range of the Chief Executive by Council and any recruitment exercise is undertaken.”

Following a debate and Councillor Phil Davies having replied, the first amendment was put and lost (25:37) (One abstention).

Prior to the vote on the second amendment, Councillor Jeff Green and five Conservative Members rose to request a ‘card vote’

A ‘card vote’ was then taken on the second amendment and the Council divided as follows:

For the amendment (24) Councillors T Anderson, C Blakeley, E Boult, A Brighouse, Mrs W Clements, D Elderton, G Ellis, L Fraser, P Gilchrist, J Green, J Hale, P Hayes, A Hodson, K Hodson, M Hornby, S Kelly, D Mitchell, T Pilgrim, C Povall, Mrs L Rennie, L Rowlands, A Sykes, G Watt, and S Williams.

Against the Amendment (37) Councillors R Abbey, P Brightmore, J Crabtree,  M Daniel, G Davies, P Davies, W Davies, P Doughty, R Gregson, P Hackett, T Johnson, A Jones, C Jones, A Leech, A McLachlan, M McLaughlin, C Meaden, B Mooney, C Muspratt, S Niblock, T Norbury, M Patrick, D Realey, L Reecejones, D Roberts, J Salter, H Smith, PA Smith, W Smith, C Spriggs, J Stapleton, M Sullivan,  J Walsh, S Whittingham, I Williams, KJ Williams and J Williamson.

Two abstentions – Councillors S Foulkes and P Cleary.

The second amendment was therefore lost (24:37) (Two abstentions).

Prior to the vote on the recommendation contained within part (1) of the resolution, Councillor Jeff Green and five Conservative Members rose to request a ‘card vote’

A ‘card vote’ was then taken on the recommendation contained within Part 1 and the Council divided as follows:

For (37) Councillors R Abbey, P Brightmore, J Crabtree,  M Daniel, G Davies, P Davies, W Davies, P Doughty, R Gregson, P Hackett, T Johnson, A Jones, C Jones, A Leech, A McLachlan, M McLaughlin, C Meaden, B Mooney, C Muspratt, S Niblock, T Norbury, M Patrick, D Realey, L Reecejones, D Roberts, J Salter, H Smith, PA Smith, W Smith, C Spriggs, J Stapleton, M Sullivan,  J Walsh, S Whittingham, I Williams, KJ Williams and J Williamson.

Against (25) Councillors T Anderson, C Blakeley, E Boult, A Brighouse, P Cleary, Mrs W Clements, D Elderton, G Ellis, L Fraser, P Gilchrist, J Green, J Hale, P Hayes, A Hodson, K Hodson, M Hornby, S Kelly, D Mitchell, T Pilgrim, C Povall, Mrs L Rennie, L Rowlands, A Sykes, G Watt, and S Williams.

One abstention – Councillor S Foulkes.

Resolved (37:25) (One abstention) – That the recommendations contained within part (1) of the resolution of the Employment and Appointments Panel (Chief Executive) on 24 November 2014, be approved.

On a motion by Councillor P Davies, seconded by Councillor Ann McLachlan in relation to recommendations (4) and (5) of the Employment and Appointment Panel (Chief Executive) on 24 November 2014 it was –

Resolved (61:1) (Councillor Chris Blakeley voting against) (One abstention) – That the recommendations contained within minute 3, recommendations (4) and (5) of the Employment and Appointments Panel (Chief Executive) on 24 November 2014, be approved.

On a motion by Councillor P Davies, seconded by Councillor Ann McLachlan in relation to minute 3 in part (2) of the Employment and Appointments Panel (Director of Resources ) on 24 November 2014 it was –

Resolved (62:0) (One abstention) – That the recommendations contained within part (2) of the resolution of minute 3 of the Employment and Appointments Panel (Director of Resources) on 24 November 2014, be approved.

The Mayor then adjourned the meeting at 8.15pm for a short break.

The meeting resumed at 8.25pm