Agenda and minutes

Venue: Bromley Civic Centre

Contact: Keith Pringle  020 8461 7743

Items
No. Item

6.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Minutes:

Apologies were received from the Mayor, Councillor Eric Bosshard and Councillor Stephen Wells. Councillor Judi Ellis as Deputy Mayor attended in place of the Mayor and Councillor Russell Mellor attended as alternate for Councillor Bosshard.

 

7.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Minutes:

There were no declarations.

 

8.

MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 29TH MAY 2013 pdf icon PDF 103 KB

Minutes:

The minutes were agreed.

 

9.

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR POSTS : SALARY PACKAGE pdf icon PDF 79 KB

The Chairman to move that the attached report be considered on grounds of urgency so that the proposed appointments can proceed as quickly as possible thus avoiding any delay which might impact on service levels.

Minutes:

Report HHR 13002

 

Approval was sought to urgently recruit two Interim Assistant Directors in the Education, Care and Public Health Services Department on a temporary/fixed term contract on a salary in excess of £100,000 per annum but not exceeding £110k per annum (including lease car or pay in lieu).

 

The current pay policy for Chief Officers (which includes deputy Chief Officers within the meaning of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989) requires Members to approve large salary packages in respect of new appointments, the threshold considered by the Secretary of State being £100,000 per year. Salary packages will include salary, bonuses, fees or allowances routinely payable to the new recruit and any benefits in kind to which the officer is entitled as a result of their employment.

 

As the posts would be filled on a temporary/fixed term contract, the Council would need to offer a good salary package to attract quality recruits away from established and stable environments. A key challenge was to ensure that pay levels remain attractive and competitive so the Council can recruit and retain quality staff, especially staff charged with managing high profile Member priorities.

 

The post of Assistant Director, Adult Care Services, became vacant following the (normal) retirement of the previous post holder earlier in the year. The Director needed to secure the commitment and services of an agency staff member procured to fill the gap by offering him a temporary/fixed contract for six months initially with the L B Bromley.

 

The Director was also seeking a temporary replacement for the post of Assistant Director, Education, which would become vacant from 1st November 2013. In consultation with the Chief Executive and the Portfolio Holder, the Director, was keen to find a quality replacement immediately to ensure very little, or no, gap between the new person starting and the current post holder’s departure.

 

In discussion and referring to the Adult Care Services post, the Executive Director, Education, Care and Health Services, referred to the suitability of the current temporary post holder. He also referred to the high financial return required from agencies.

 

For the post of Assistant Director, Education, it would not be possible to secure a full time appointment until January 2014. Again, there would be high costs in procuring an appointment via an employment agency. A consultant employed by the Department in the previous six to eight weeks had performed well and following initial approaches, had confirmed a willingness to work for the authority. The Executive Director was not convinced the post could be filled satisfactorily via an employment agency.

 

Councillor Evans supported the Director’s comments on the performance of the proposed temporary post holder for the Adult Care Services post. The post was needed to oversee current work and future care proposals and how this is undertaken. For the Education post, he also commended the consultant’s work in respect of the Pupil Referral Unit.

 

In view of the last day in post for the current Assistant Director, Education being 31st  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.