Agenda and minutes

None.

None.

Mr A I Hardman was elected Chairman.

Mr J H Smith was elected Vice-Chairman.

To authorise the procedure for confirming and signing the Minutes of this meeting.  It is recommended that the Minutes be circulated to Members of the Panel and be signed by the Chairman in light of any comments on their accuracy received within 7 days of their circulation.

RESOLVED: that the minutes of this meeting be circulated to Members of the Panel and be signed by the Chairman in the light of any comments on their accuracy received within 7 days of their circulation.

The Panel will be asked to exclude the press and public from the meeting for the following item as it is likely that exempt information relating to any individual will be disclosed and the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosure.

RESOLVED: that the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item as it is likely that exempt information relating to any individual will be disclosed and the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosure.

Background Information

Interim Director of Adult Services

The current Interim Director of Adult Services, Avril Wilson, was leaving the Council on 24 October 2019. The Council is required to have a statutory Director of Adult Social Services (DASS) and has designated the Director of Adult Services post as the statutory DASS. 

The current Interim Director of Adult Services introduced the report on behalf of the Chief Executive.  The Council would be seeking appointment to the new post of Director of People, but in the meantime, an Interim DAS (and DASS) was needed.

Full Council in September 2019 agreed a restructure to create a new Directorate of People.  At its meeting on 27 September 2019, the Appointments etc Panel authorised the commencement of permanent recruitment to the post of Strategic Director for People (who will also be the DASS), with that appointment to be made at a later Panel.  This post would be different to the current DAS post. In accordance with the previous Panel’s decision, a joint appointment was being explored with Health.

The Chief Executive had asked for internal expressions of interest from current Chief Officers for appointment as Interim Director of Adult Services, using the existing job description and person specification. The Appointments Etc. Panel on 27 September 2019 shortlisted 2 candidates who were interviewed by the Panel on 17 October 2019.

Interim Director of Public Health

The previous Director of Public Health, Dr Frances Howie, had resigned, and on 17 July 2019 two internal candidates for the role of Interim Director of Public Health were interviewed by the Chief Executive, Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Public Health and the Regional Director for Public Health (England). Dr Kathryn Cobain was appointed on an interim basis for 4 months initially. This is a statutory post which the Council is required to have, and Public Health (England) must also agree appointments to it on behalf of the Secretary of State.     

At the Appointments Etc Panel held on 27 September 2019, permission was given to commence the permanent recruitment to the post of Director of Public Health.  This was likely to take a few months from advertisement to appointment and then to start date.  Accordingly, this Panel was asked to support an extension to the current interim appointment of Dr Kathryn Cobain until a permanent appointee is in post.

The Panel RESOLVED that:

a)  the post of Interim Director of Adult Services be offered to Elaine Carolan, subject to formal written offer;

b)the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Adult Social Care, be authorised to settle the detailed terms of that appointment; and

c)  the appointment of the current Interim Director of Public Health, Kathryn Cobain, be extended until the permanent appointment is made and in post.