Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received on behalf of Councillor C. Hotham.

Members were advised that Councillor P. Whittaker would be arriving late to the meeting.

There were no declarations of interest.

The minutes of the Joint Appointments Committee meeting held on 13^th November 2024 were submitted.

RESOLVED that

the minutes of the Joint Appointments Committee meeting held on 13^th November 2024 be approved as a true and correct record.

The Human Resources and Organisational Development Manager presented a report detailing the background to nominations for the positions of Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service and Deputy Chief Executive and Section 151 Officer respectively.

The Committee was advised that there had been a rigorous recruitment process undertaken in 2024 to recruit to both the position of Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service as well as the position of Deputy Chief Executive and Section 151 Officer.  The Joint Appointments Sub-Committee had interviewed various candidates, following a detailed shortlisting process for both roles.  The Joint Appointments Sub-Committee had received expert advice and support from representatives of external recruitment consultants, GatenbySanderson as well as the current Chief Executive and the Human Resources and Organisational Development Manager.

Based on the outcomes of the recruitment process, the Joint Appointments Sub-Committee had agreed the following nominations:

·             Mr John Leach to the position of Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service.

·             Mr Robert Watson to the position of Deputy Chief Executive and Section 151 Officer.

Subject to the endorsement of the Joint Appointments Committee, both nominations would need to be referred for approval at meetings of the respective authorities’ full Council.  There was a legal requirement to check, prior to the Council meetings, that no members of Bromsgrove Cabinet or Redditch Executive Committee objected to the nominations. Members were advised that meetings of Council were due to take place on 22^nd January 2025 in Bromsgrove and on 27^th January 2025 in Redditch.  Should both Councils approve the nominations, there would remain a requirement for satisfactory reference checks and medical assessments and both candidates would need to complete notice periods with their existing employers prior to commencing employment with the Councils.

Following the presentation of the report, Members questioned the outcomes of the reference check process and whether Councillors would be provided with copies of these.  Officers clarified that the reference check process could not commence until after the Council meetings had formally ratified the nominations.

Reference was also made to the section of the report that referred to equalities and diversity implications.  A request was received from Members for a breakdown of the ethnic diversity and gender of applicants for the positions.  In response to this query, Officers provided the following data:

·             Gender

-        Male – 17

-        Female – 3

-        No Answer – 1

·             Age Range

-        35-44 – 3

-        45-54 – 7

-        55-64 – 10

-        No Answer – 1

·             Ethnic Origin

-        Pakistani – 1

-        White British – 17

-        No Answer – 1

-        Any Other Asian Background – 1

-        Any Other White Background – 1

·             Disability

-        No – 19

-        No Answer/Prefer Not To Say – 2

·             Sexual Orientation

-        LGBTQ+ - 2

-        Heterosexual – 17

-        No Answer – 1

-        Prefer Not To Say – 1

In response to questions regarding the gender breakdown of shortlisted candidates for the positions, Officers confirmed that they had all been male.  However,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.