Agenda, decisions and minutes
PDF 85 KBVenue: Council Chamber, District Council Offices, Gernon Road, Letchworth Garden City
Contact: Committee Services (01462) 474655 Email: committee.services@north-herts.gov.uk
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APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Decision: Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Daniel Allen, Sam Collins, Faye Frost, Sean Prendergast, Deepak Sangha and Val Shanley. Minutes: Audio recording – Session 1 - 1 minute 21 seconds
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Daniel Allen, Sam Collins, Faye Frost, Sean Prendergast, Deepak Sangha and Val Shanley. |
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CHAIR'S ANNOUNCEMENTS Climate Emergency Members are reminded that this Council has declared a Climate Emergency. This is a serious decision and means that, as this is an emergency, all of us, officers and Members have that in mind as we carry out our various roles and tasks for the benefit of our District.
Declarations of Interest Members are reminded that any declarations of interest in respect of any business set out in the agenda, should be declared as either a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest or Declarable Interest and are required to notify the Chair of the nature of any interest declared at the commencement of the relevant item on the agenda. Members declaring a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest must withdraw from the meeting for the duration of the item. Members declaring a Declarable Interest, wishing to exercise a ‘Councillor Speaking Right’, must declare this at the same time as the interest, move to the public area before speaking to the item and then must leave the room before the debate and vote. Decision: (1) Mobile Phones
The Chair requested that mobile phones were turned off or the ring tone and other sounds muted.
(2) Audio Recording
The Chair advised that, in accordance with Council policy this meeting was being audio recorded and that Members of the public and the press may use their devices to film/photograph, or do a sound recording of the meeting.
(3) Declarations of Interest
The Chair reminded Members to make declarations of interest before an item, and that the detailed reminder about this and speaking rights was set out under Chair’s Announcements on the agenda.
(4) Refreshments
The Chair advised that, this being an extraordinary meeting, there would be no refreshments this evening.
(5) Comfort break
The Chair advised that, if the meeting went on beyond 9pm, she would call a 5 minute comfort break. Members were asked to remain in the room prior to this to ensure that they could vote.
(6) Rules of Debate
The Chair advised that, in accordance with the Constitution please could Members ensure that no speech exceeded five minutes without the consent of the Chair.
(7) Order of Business
The Chair advised that, in respect of the items entitled Senior Management Arrangements, the Part 1 item would be considered, then the meeting would go into Part 2 to make a Part 2 decision, following which the meeting would return to Part 1 to make a Part 1 decision. Minutes: Audio recording – Session 1 - 2 minutes 5 seconds
(1) Mobile Phones
The Chair requested that mobile phones were turned off or the ring tone and other sounds muted.
(2) Audio Recording
The Chair advised that, in accordance with Council policy this meeting was being audio recorded and that Members of the public and the press may use their devices to film/photograph, or do a sound recording of the meeting.
(3) Declarations of Interest
The Chair reminded Members to make declarations of interest before an item, and that the detailed reminder about this and speaking rights was set out under Chair’s Announcements on the agenda.
(4) Refreshments
The Chair advised that, this being an extraordinary meeting, there would be no refreshments this evening.
(5) Comfort break
The Chair advised that, if the meeting went on beyond 9pm, she would call a 5 minute comfort break. Members were asked to remain in the room prior to this to ensure that they could vote.
(6) Rules of Debate
The Chair advised that, in accordance with the Constitution please could Members ensure that no speech exceeded five minutes without the consent of the Chair.
(7) Order of Business
The Chair advised that, in respect of the items entitled Senior Management Arrangements, the Part 1 item would be considered, then the meeting would go into Part 2 to make a Part 2 decision, following which the meeting would return to Part 1 to make a Part 1 decision. |
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REFERRAL FROM EMPLOYMENT COMMITTEE To consider a referral from the Employment Committee.
This referral will be published on 27 February 2020. Additional documents:
Decision: The Chair advised that the referral from the Employment Committee regarding the Senior Management Arrangements would be taken with the Part 2 Item of the same name. Minutes: Audio Recording – Session 1 - 3 minutes 58 seconds
The Chair advised that the referral from the Employment Committee regarding the Senior Management Arrangements would be taken with the Part 2 Item of the same name. |
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SENIOR MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS REPORT OF COUNCILLOR MARTIN STEARS-HANDSCOMB AND THE SERVICE DIRECTOR – RESOURCES
To consider a report entitled Senior Management Arrangements. Decision: The meeting considered the Part 1 report, then considered the Part 2 report, following which the meeting returned to Part 1 and it was:
RESOLVED:
(1) That Council agrees to the deletion of the post of Chief Executive (Head of Paid Service) and the post of Deputy Chief Executive and establishment of a new post of Managing Director (Head of Paid Service), subject to consultation with those affected and at a suitable date to be determined;
(2) That Council accept the voluntary redundancy request of the Chief Executive, with an effective leaving date of 17th July 2020;
(3) That Council approves the use of the Special Reserve to fund the potential redundancy outlined in paragraph 8.3;
(4) That Council notes that a further report with a proposed new senior management structure will be brought to Full Council on 2 April 2020.
REASON FOR DECISIONS: To effect savings to support the Councils objective of reducing costs. Minutes: Audio recording – Session 1 - 4 minutes 8 seconds and Session 2 – 11 seconds
The Leader of the Council presented the report entitled Senior Management Arrangements
At this point the meeting considered the Part 2 report (Minute 80 refers), following which, the meeting returned to Part 1.
For the benefit of the public, the Leader of the Council read out the Part 2 resolutions and asked that Members vote on them in Part 1
RESOLVED:
(1) That Council agrees to the deletion of the post of Chief Executive (Head of Paid Service) and the post of Deputy Chief Executive and establishment of a new post of Managing Director (Head of Paid Service), subject to consultation with those affected and at a suitable date to be determined;
(2) That Council accept the voluntary redundancy request of the Chief Executive, with an effective leaving date of 17th July 2020;
(3) That Council approves the use of the Special Reserve to fund the potential redundancy outlined in paragraph 8.3;
(4) That Council notes that a further report with a proposed new senior management structure will be brought to Full Council on 2 April 2020.
REASON FOR DECISIONS: To effect savings to support the Councils objective of reducing costs. |
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EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC To consider passing the following resolution:
That under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, the Press and Public be excluded from the meeting on the grounds that the following report will involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the said Act (as amended). Decision: RESOLVED: That under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, the Press and Public be excluded from the meeting on the grounds that the following report will involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the said Act (as amended). Minutes: Audio Recording – 5 minutes 54 seconds
RESOLVED: That under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, the Press and Public be excluded from the meeting on the grounds that the following report will involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the said Act (as amended). |
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SENIOR MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS REPORT OF COUNCILLOR MARTIN STEARS-HANDSCOB AND THE SERVICE DIRECTOR – RESOURCES
To consider a report entitled Senior Management Arrangements. Decision: This Item was considered prior to the decisions being made in Part 1.
RESOLVED:
(1) That Council agrees to the deletion of the post of Chief Executive (Head of Paid Service) and the post of Deputy Chief Executive and establishment of a new post of Managing Director (Head of Paid Service), subject to consultation with those affected and at a suitable date to be determined;
(2) That Council accept the voluntary redundancy request of the Chief Executive, with an effective leaving date of 17th July 2020;
(3) That Council approves the use of the Special Reserve to fund the potential redundancy outlined in paragraph 8.3;
(4) That Council notes that a further report with a proposed new senior management structure will be brought to Full Council on 2 April 2020.
REASON FOR DECISIONS: To effect savings to support the Councils objective of reducing costs. Minutes: Audio recording – Not recorded as Part 2 Item
The Leader of the Council presented the report entitled Senior Management Arrangements together with the referral from the Employment Committee.
The following Members asked questions and took part in the debate:
· Councillor Richard Thake; · Councillor Simon Harwood; · Councillor Claire Strong; · Councillor Gerald Morris; · Councillor Jim McNally; · Councillor Michael Weeks; · Councillor David Levett; · Councillor John Bishop; · Councillor Judi Billing; · Councillor George Davies; · Councillor Simon Harwood.
Questions were answered by:
· The Leader of the Council; · The Service Director – Resources; · The Representative from the East of England Local Government Association; · The Service Director – Legal and Community.
RESOLVED:
(1) That Council agrees to the deletion of the post of Chief Executive (Head of Paid Service) and the post of Deputy Chief Executive and establishment of a new post of Managing Director (Head of Paid Service), subject to consultation with those affected and at a suitable date to be determined;
(2) That Council accept the voluntary redundancy request of the Chief Executive, with an effective leaving date of 17th July 2020;
(3) That Council approves the use of the Special Reserve to fund the potential redundancy outlined in paragraph 8.3;
(4) That Council notes that a further report with a proposed new senior management structure will be brought to Full Council on 2 April 2020.
REASON FOR DECISIONS: To effect savings to support the Councils objective of reducing costs. |
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Audio Recording of Meeting MP3 7 MB Additional documents: |