Agenda and minutes

Members are asked to note that under the terms of reference for the Joint Appointments Committee, the Leaders of Bromsgrove District Council and Redditch Borough Council should take it in turns to Chair meetings of the Joint Appointments Committee.

A nomination was received that Councillor K. May be appointed as

the Chair for this meeting of the Joint Appointments Committee. The nomination was proposed by Councillor S. Harvey and seconded by Councillor P. Whittaker.

RESOLVED that Councillor K. May be appointed to Chair the meeting

of the Joint Appointments Committee.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors J. Baker, R. Hunter, W. King and J. Spilsbury.

There were no declarations of interest.

The minutes of the Joint Appointments Committee meeting held on 12th

November 2025 were submitted for Members’ consideration.

RESOLVED that

the minutes of the Joint Appointments Committee meeting held on 12th

November 2025 be approved as a true and correct record.

There was no Urgent Business on this occasion.

The Chief Executive presented the Arrangements for the Appointment of a Director of Finance and Section 151 Officer for the Councils for Members’ consideration.

In doing so, it was noted that the former Section 151 Officer had departed from Bromsgrove District and Redditch Borough Councils in 2025. The Assistant Director Finance and Customer Services had been acting in an interim capacity since October 2025. Following consideration of the situation in November 2025 it had been deemed necessary to revisit the appointment of an Interim Director of Finance and Section 151 Officer. It had been agreed that the recruitment process would be progressed using Penna Consultants, who had a significant experience in the recruitment of Senior Finance Officers within Local Government. Members were reminded that the final decision on the appointment would be considered and agreed at full Council.

Mr. A. Tromans, Partner for Penna Consultants provided Members with an overview of the current market for Local Government recruitment, including supply and demand of suitable candidates and willingness of candidates to make the step up to Director level. It was noted that this was a good opportunity for a candidate to take a step up in their career. It was hoped that the role would appeal to a wide range of candidates including those who were working within a single authority who wanted to experience greater responsibility within a shared service setting or those who were currently in a Deputy Section 151 Officer role.

It was proposed that the preferred option for a suitable candidate would be a permanent position. This would enable resilience within the Finance team at both Councils and provide continuity at a time of significant change within the structure of Local Government due to the upcoming Local Government Reorganisation (LGR). However, it was confirmed that a six-month or an interim appointment would not be excluded if appropriate.

In terms of the role, the job description had been evaluated and a competitive salary applied accordingly.

Members were keen that a suitable candidate be appointed by the end of the process to ensure that the Councils were in a good position going forward at a time of uncertainty and significant change. It was confirmed that there would be assessments and interviews carried out as part of the recruitment process in order to identify the right candidate for the role. It was highlighted that an understanding of a complex political landscape would also be required along with the understanding of working under a shared service arrangement.

In terms of notice it was expected that a successful candidate would need to provide at least three months’ notice. Therefore, taking the time it took to identify a suitable candidate, interviews and Member Panel and consideration of Full Council, it was hoped that the successful candidate would be in post by June or July 2026.

RESOLVED that

1)    The report from Penna recruitment consultants be noted.

2)    A recruitment campaign commence prioritising a permanent appointment of a Director of Finance and Section  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12/25

“That, under S.100 (A) (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following matter(s) – Items 7 - Arrangements for the Appointment of a Director of Finance and Section 151 Officer for the Councils - and 8 – Current Section 151 Arrangements – Verbal Update - for the Councils - on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the relevant paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 12 (A) of the said Act”.

These paragraphs are as follows:

Subject to the “public interest” test, information relating to:

·         Para 3 – financial or business affairs; and

·         Para 4 – labour relations matters.

                     and may need to be considered as ‘exempt’.

RESOLVED that:

Under S100 A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following matters on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12 of the said act, as amended.

·       Minute Item No 14 - Current Section 151 Arrangements - Verbal Update

The Chief Executive provided an update on the current Section 151 Officer arrangements. In doing so it was reported that the Assistant Director Finance and Customer Services had been acting in an interim capacity since October 2025. However, it had been necessary to revisit this arrangement due to the impact of the increased workload at an extremely busy budget setting period for the Councils.

As a result, a temporary solution had been considered and a suitable fixed term candidate identified. Members were informed that Ms. J. Lorraine would commence work with the Councils on 19th January 2026 on a temporary basis.

Ms. Lorraine was an extremely experienced and Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) qualified Section 151 Officer with significant Local Government experience.

Ms. Lorraine would work in a hybrid manner, in line with Council policy, however, would be in attendance at key Council meetings over the coming months. The funding of this appointment would be met from Council Reserves with each Council responsible for fifty per cent of the costs.

RESOLVED that the current Section 151 arrangements - verbal update be noted.

[During consideration of this item, Members discussed matters that necessitated the disclosure of exempt information. It was therefore agreed to move to exclude the press and public prior to any debate on the grounds that information would be revealed that included information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).