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 17 March 2023.

The minutes from 17 March 2023 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.

The Panel agreed to pass 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.

Tracey Lee, Chief Executive provided an update to the Panel and highlighted the following key points:

Kim Brown, Service Director had provided her resignation and was leaving the role to return to London. Kim’s last day would be 7 June 2023. Due to the market, timescales and the election in May, it was agreed for this item to be heard under Chairs Urgent Business. 

In response to questions raised it was reported that:

At the next Chief Officers Appointments Panel on 2 June 2023, the Panel would be looking to appoint a candidate to the interim post and would also look to appoint a candidate to the permanent Director of Resources. 

The Panel agreed to:

1.    Start the recruitment to the permanent Service Director for HROD and;

2.    To start the process to recruit to an interim Service Director for HROD.

Kim Brown (Service Director for HROD) advised that Panel that it had been previously agreed to recruit to the position of Service Director for Education, Participation and Skills. One candidate would be presented to the Panel in part 2 of the meeting, the Panel would also receive updates in relation to the assessment centre and the technical interviews. 

Panel agreed to undertake a selection process for the role of Service Director of Education, Participation and Skills.

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 to pass 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 will be asked to confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 17 March 2023.

The confidential minutes from 17 March 2023 were agreed as a true and accurate record.

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

The Panel agreed to defer the item to the next meeting of the Panel in order to consider all cost implications.

The Service Director for HROD and Director for Children’s Services presented the item to the Panel and advised that one candidate had been selected for interview for the permanent role of Service Director for Education, Participation and Skills.

Following an interview with the candidate, the Panel agreed not to appoint the candidate and requested that the current interim Service Director for Education, Participation and Skills continue in the post until a permanent candidate had been found subject to a further recruitment process.