Agenda item

Mrs Susan Hanley, the Interim Head of Paid Service and Mr Peter Carpenter, Interim Director of Finance and S151 Officer left the room prior to consideration of this item. 

Council considered a report setting out proposals in respect of the fixed term appointment of Mrs Susan Hanley to enable her to continue in post as the Council’s Interim Head of Paid Service, Returning Officer and Electoral Registration Officer.  In addition, the report proposed the fixed term appointment of Mr Peter Carpenter to the post of Interim Section 151 Officer and Deputy Chief Executive.  Council was also asked to note the resignation of Mrs Hanley from the Board of Rubicon Leisure Limited, the wholly owned Council company that delivered leisure services on behalf of the Council.

Members were reminded that following the retirement of the former Head of Paid Service a recruitment exercise had been carried out for the post of Head of Paid Service and Section 151 Officer but neither post had been filled.  It was proposed in the report to extend the fixed term contract of Mrs Hanley and Mr Carpenter.  Mrs Hanley had indicated her intention to resign from her substantive post of Deputy Chief Executive and it was proposed to appoint Mr Carpenter to that role when the post became vacant, and Director of Resources (including the S151 Statutory Officer role) on an interim basis.  This would enable a recruitment exercise to be undertaken, and in the meantime provide stability in the senior management of the council. 

During debate on this item the following were the main points raised:

·       It was suggested that the Leaders of this Council and Bromsgrove District Council had chosen not to conclude the recruitment exercise which had resulted in the Council needing to consider this report and that more detail about this should have been provided for members.  It was noted that it would not be appropriate for details of the recruitment process to be shared in public.  Following a short adjournment of the meeting, it was agreed that there would be a slight amendment to wording in the report to acknowledge that the recruitment process resulted in the Council not being able to recruit on this occasion.

·       Members thanked Mrs Hanley and Mr Carpenter for their continued hard work, dedication and support to the Council as a whole and individual Councillors.  Members also paid tribute to Michelle Howell, Head of Finance and Customer Services, who would be leaving the Council.

·       It was suggested that the Council should be provided with details of the cost of the recruitment process so far and any lessons learned.

·       Concern was expressed about capacity in the Finance team and potential pressure as a result of the s151 officer carrying out this and the Deputy Chief Executive role, especially in the light of the challenges faced by the Council in dealing with its accounts.  The Monitoring Officer responded that she understood recent recruitment to the Finance team would sustain its capacity to support the function.

RESOLVED that

1)    Mrs Susan Hanley continue to be appointed as the Interim Head of Paid Service, Returning Officer and Electoral Registration Officer for Redditch Borough Council on a fixed term basis until 30^th November 2024 or, if the date is later, until such time as a new permanent Head of Paid Service has commenced employment with the Council.

2)    Subject thereto, Mrs Susan Hanley to be made available under the shared services arrangements with Bromsgrove District Council to perform such duties as are required in her capacity as Interim Head of Paid Service for Bromsgrove District Council.

3)    Following Mrs Hanley’s resignation from her substantive position as Deputy Chief Executive, Members note that, subject to Bromsgrove District Council as employer agreeing to the appointment of Mr Peter Carpenter as Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Resources (Section 151 Officer) on a fixed term basis until 30^th November 2024, he will be made available under the shared services arrangements to perform such duties as are required by his post for Redditch Borough Council.

4)    For the purposes of Section 151 of the Local Government 1972, Mr Peter Carpenter be appointed as Section 151 officer for Redditch Borough Council.