Members will be asked to make any declarations of interest in respect of items on the agenda.

There were no declaration of interest.

To receive reports on business which, in the opinion of the Chair, should be bought forward for urgent consideration.

There were no items of Chair’s Urgent Business.

Chris Squire (Service Director for HROD) presented the report and made the following key points:

a)    A recruitment process to the role of permanent Service Director for Children, Young People and Families had commenced to replace the current interim who had been brought in to cover the previous permanent role holder due to a period of illness;

b)    The previous permanent postholder resigned the position to continue their recovery;

c)    There were a number of candidates that declared an interest in the role and following technical interviews, two candidates were taken through to the assessment centre which involved interview panels by Cabinet members, the Executive, Senior Leadership Team and children and young people. The assessment centre also involved financial and psychological assessments;

d)    Following the assessment centre process, one candidate was selected for interview by this Panel. 

The Panel agreed to:

1.    Note the content of the report;

2.    Accept the recommendation that one candidate had progressed to interview by this Panel;

3.    Undertake a formal interview on 16 January 2026.

To consider passing a resolution under Section 100(4) of the Local Government Act, 1972 to exclude the press and public from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1, 2 and 4 of Part I of Schedule 12A of the Act, as amended by the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

The Panel agreed that under Section 100(4) of the Local Government Act, 1972 to exclude the press and public from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1, 2 and 4 of Part 1 of Scheduled 12A of the Act, as amended by the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Following an interview process, the Panel agreed to appoint Emmy Tomsett as Service Director for Children, Young People and Families subject to Cabinet approval and the necessary pre-employment checks.

(Please note that there is a confidential minute to this item)

The Panel agreed to re-order the agenda to hear this item before minute 45. 

The Panel agreed to:

1.    Extend the contract of Andy Sharp in the role of interim Service Director for Street Services under the current terms and conditions for a further six months whilst the permanent recruitment process took place.

For: (6) Councillors Laing, Aspinall, Briars-Delve, Blight, Mrs Beer and Lugger. 

Against: (0)

Abstain: (1) Councillor Coker.