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

There were no declarations of interest.

The Panel will be asked to confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 20 March 2026.

The minutes of the meeting that took place on 20 March 2026 were agreed as a true and accurate record. 

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

There were no items of chairs urgent business.

Following the assessment centre process, there were no suitable candidates for interview by the Panel.

The Panel agreed to note the verbal report.

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

a)    This was a new role to Children’s Services and following commencement of a search, two candidates were identified for the role;

b)    One candidate withdrew from the process before the assessment centre and one candidate was successful from the assessment centre and was being presented to the Panel for interview.

The Panel agreed to:

1.    Note the report;

2.    Undertake a formal interview on 23 April 2026 for the position of Service Director for Quality Assurance, Safeguarding and Partnerships.

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 and 2 of Part 1 of Scheduled 12A of the Act, as amended by the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

The Panel will be asked to confirm the confidential minutes of the meeting held on 20 March 2026.

The confidential minutes of the meeting that took place on 20 March 2026 were agreed as a true and accurate record.

(The item was withdrawn and an update was provided under minute 62)

The Panel unanimously agreed to appoint candidate Nicola Hannaford to the position of Service Director for Quality Assurance, Safeguarding and Partnerships subject to Cabinet agreement and the necessary pre-employment checks.

The Panel agreed to delegate the responsibility of negotiations of the terms and conditions to the Director of Children’s Services.