Agenda and draft minutes

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Councillor Marc Bayliss was elected Chairman of the Panel.

Councillor David Chambers was elected Vice-Chairman of the Panel.

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.

The County Council had a good track record of delivering against the Strategic Economic Plan (SEP) and had built strong relationships with key partners, including the Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).  As it moved beyond the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on Economic Recovery and other changes from central government, it needed to ensure Worcestershire was well positioned to secure economic growth as one of the Council’s priorities.    

To enable this the Cabinet Member with Responsibility had requested a post was established to focus on the further development of Economic Strategy and Policy and associated areas.  The new post would be positioned in the Economy and Infrastructure Directorate, reporting to the Strategic Director.  This post would help create stability and focus for the Council and partners during what would be a transitional period, e.g. role of the LEPs and beyond.

Recognising the integral role of the LEP it was important for Worcestershire to retain the knowledge, experience and network of the most senior manager.  It was therefore recommended by the Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Economy and Skills that Gary Woodman, Chief Executive of WLEP, be “seconded” to the role of Assistant Director for Economy for a transitional period, until the post could be filled on a permanent basis.

RESOLVED: that the Panel

(a)  Approved the creation of the post of Assistant Director for Economy and the job description and person specification;

(b)  Agreed to offer the post of Assistant Director for Economy to Gary Woodman;

(c)  agreed that this would be on a secondment basis for up to a maximum of 12 months; and

(d)  authorised the Strategic Director for Economy and Infrastructure in consultation with the Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Economy and Skills, to commence the permanent recruitment to the post of Assistant Director for Economy in September 2022 and the appointment to be brought to a later Appointments Etc. Panel.