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

There were no declarations 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.

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 ad defined in paragraphs 1, 2 and 4 of Part I of Scheduled 12A of the Act, as amended by the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

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 involve the likely disclosure of exempt information ad defined in paragraphs 1, 2 and 4 of Part I of Scheduled 12A of the Act, as amended by the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

The Panel will receive a report on the organisational design.

Tracey Lee (Chief Executive) presented the organisational design report.

The Panel agreed to –

1.         Note the update on Organisational Design.

2.         Approve the “slotting in” of the current Head of Legal Services.

3.         Approve the ring-fencing of Head of Community Services to the Service Director Community Connections role.

The Panel will be asked to consider the recruitment of the Director of Children’s Services.

Tracey Lee (Chief Executive) presented the recruitment of the Director of Children’s Services report.

The Panel agreed to –

1.         Note the work undertaken so far.

2.         Undertake a robust recruitment process for the selection of the Director of Children’s Services.

The Panel were then joined by John Coughlan (Chief Executive, Hampshire County Council) and Councillor Julien Parrott (Torbay Council) to undertake a selection process.

Following the selection process the Panel agreed –

1.         That Alison Botham is appointed to undertake the role of Director of Children’s Services with effect from 5 March 2018.

2.         To approve immediate commencement of the most suitable resourcing process(es) to fill the vacant Assistant Director Children, Young People and Families on both a temporary and permanent basis.

The Panel will receive an update on the interim arrangements for the Strategic Director for Transformation and Change.

Tracey Lee (Chief Executive) provided an update on the interim arrangements for the Strategic Director for Transformation and Change.

The Panel agreed that –

1.         Members are asked to agree to the proposal to amend the current joint interim arrangement.

2.         Members are asked to agree an extension to the timescales.