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

There were no declarations of interest made by councillors in accordance with the code of conduct in relation to items under consideration at this meeting.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 29 November 2013.

Agreed the minutes of the meeting held on 29 November 2013.

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

There was no Chair’s urgent business.

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

Agreed that under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act, 1972 the press and public are excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, as amended by the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

The Chief Executive will submit a report on the current position of the Senior Management Structure.

The Panel decided: 

The Chief Executive will provide a verbal update to members on the recruitment of the Strategic Director for Transformation and Change.

It was unanimously agreed to seek an interim post holder whilst a wider recruitment search took place. Any such candidate to be appointed from an external recruitment process to avoid creating an unfair advantage for any internal candidate who might want to apply for the permanent position.

Members will be asked to appoint an Assistant Director for Customer Services.

The Appointment Panel was joined by the technical adviser.

The Panel unanimously agreed to appoint Faye Batchelor-Hambleton to the role of Assistant Director for Customer Services (subject to references and other pre-employment checks).