Agenda, decisions and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber - South Cambs Hall. View directions

Contact: Democratic Services  03450 450 500 Email: democratic.services@scambs.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

APOLOGIES

To receive apologies for absence from Members.

Minutes:

Apologies for Absence were received Councillors Philip Allen, Ruth Betson, Sarah Cheung Johnson, Alex Malyon, Peter McDonald, Dawn Percival, Nick Sample and Nick Wright.

2.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Minutes:

None. 

3.

Exclusion of Press and Public

To consider whether to exclude the press and public from the meeting for the following item of business, in accordance with Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, on the grounds that consideration of the item is likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

Minutes:

The Chairman announced that the Council’s discussion on the forthcoming item would be held in open session.

4.

Appointment of the Chief Executive pdf icon PDF 147 KB

To consider the recommendations of the Employment and Staffing Committee, following its meeting on 2 July 2019.

 

(Note:  The Committee’s recommendations, together with any supporting report, will be published via a supplement to be sent to follow in view of this agenda being published on 26 June 2019.)

Additional documents:

Decision:

With 34 votes in favour, none against and one abstention, Council

 

AGREED        to

 

(a)       Approve the appointment of Liz Watts as Chief Executive Officer and Head of Paid Service, Electoral Registration Officer and Returning Officer and to all other roles, duties and delegations that are prescribed to the Chief Executive in the Council’s Constitution for South Cambridgeshire District Council. 

 

(b)       Note that a provisional offer of employment has been made, subject to two exemplary references and eligibility checks in accordance with the Council’s policies. The necessary references have been received. 

 

(c)       Agree that the appointment commence on a date to be mutually agreed.

 

(d)       Agree that the salary to be offered is £129,930 which is within the Council’s salary range for this post as set out in the Pay Policy Statement(£113,690 - £129,930 per annum). 

 

(e)       Confirm that the appointment will be subject to a 6-month probation period.

 

Minutes:

Councillor Henry Batchelor, Chairman of the Employment and Staffing Committee, explained that an independent firm had been employed to run the appointment process and under their guidance the Appointments Panel had recommended the best candidate. The Employment and Staffing Committee had unanimously supported this recommendation. Councillor Batchelor therefore proposed that Council agree the appointment of Liz Watts as Chief Executive Officer, Head of Paid Service, Electoral Registration Officer, Returning Officer and all other duties and delegations prescribed to the Chief Executive in the Council’s Constitution.

 

Councillor Bridget Smith seconded this proposal by explaining that the Council had received over 60 enquiries regarding the post and that Liz Watts was the best candidate in an outstanding list of applicants. She expressed her thanks to the Interim Chief Executive for successfully managing an increased workload with cheerful enthusiasm. Councillor Smith also thanked the Interim Director of Corporate Services and her colleagues for their work in the appointments process.

 

Councillor Peter Topping supported the recommendation and expressed his thanks to the Interim Chief Executive for his hard work over the last few months.

 

Councillor Nigel Cathcart expressed the concern that the diversity and character of the District’s villages could be lost amongst other competing objectives, such as the promotion of shared services.

 

A vote was taken and with 34 votes in favour, none against and one abstention, Council

 

AGREED        to

 

(a)       Approve the appointment of Liz Watts as Chief Executive Officer and Head of Paid Service, Electoral Registration Officer and Returning Officer and to all other roles, duties and delegations that are prescribed to the Chief Executive in the Council’s Constitution for South Cambridgeshire District Council. 

 

(b)       Note that a provisional offer of employment has been made, subject to two exemplary references and eligibility checks in accordance with the Council’s policies. The necessary references have been received. 

 

(c)       Agree that the appointment commence on a date to be mutually agreed.

 

(d)       Agree that the salary to be offered is £129,930 which is within the Council’s salary range for this post as set out in the Pay Policy Statement(£113,690 - £129,930 per annum). 

 

(e)       Confirm that the appointment will be subject to a 6-month probation period.