Issue - meetings

To review the operation of the arrangements with Bromsgrove District Council for the secondment and sharing of their Chief Executive as the Acting Joint Chief Executive for both Councils.

(Report to follow)

Members received a report from the Leader of the Council reviewing the operation of the arrangements with Bromsgrove District Council for the secondment and sharing of their Chief Executive as the Acting Joint Chief Executive for both Councils.

The figures for the costs to date to Redditch Borough Council for the post of Joint Chief Executive were reported orally as being £38,605, and those for the consequential costs in relation to the Acting Deputy Chief Executive post as being £8,990.

The Leader of the Council reported that she considered the first six months of the trial period for the Acting Joint Chief Executive post and the Joint Working and Shared Services arrangements with Bromsgrove District Council to have been successful.

The recommendations in relation to the Joint Working and Shared Services arrangements received broad support although the post of Acting Joint Chief Executive continued to be cause of less consensus across the Groups as had been the case within the Shared Services Board.

1)          the recommendation from the Shared Services Board to continue with the Joint Working and Shared Service arrangements with Bromsgrove District Council be approved; and

2)          the continued secondment of the Acting Joint Chief Executive to the Council be continued until the 31st July 2009 in accordance with the six month review requirements within the secondment agreement.

(Prior to consideration of this item, and in accordance with the requirements of Section 81 of the Local Government Act 2000, Kevin Dicks, Acting Joint Chief Executive, declared a personal and prejudicial interest, in view of the fact that the matter under discussion was the terms and conditions of his employment by the Council, and withdrew from the meeting.

During consideration of this item, and in accordance with the requirements of Section 81 of the Local Government Act 2000, Sue Hanley, Acting Deputy Chief Executive, withdrew from the meeting in view of the fact that the matter under discussion included the terms and conditions of her employment by the Council.)