Agenda and minutes

To appoint a Chair for this and subsequent meetings relating to recruitment to the post of Head of HR and Workforce.

RESOLVED:

That Councillor Moncur be appointed as Chair for this and subsequent meetings of the Employment Procedure Committee relating to recruitment to the post of Head of HR & Workforce.

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Pugh.

Members are requested at a meeting where a disclosable pecuniary interest or personal interest arises, which is not already included in their Register of Members' Interests, to declare any interests that relate to an item on the agenda.

Where a Member discloses a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest, he/she must withdraw from the meeting during the whole consideration of any item of business in which he/she has an interest, except where he/she is permitted to remain as a result of a grant of a dispensation.

Where a Member discloses a personal interest he/she must seek advice from the Monitoring Officer or staff member representing the Monitoring Officer by 12 Noon the day before the meeting to determine whether the Member should withdraw from the meeting room, during the whole consideration of any item of business in which he/she has an interest or whether the Member can remain in the meeting or remain in the meeting and vote on the relevant decision.

No declarations of any disclosable pecuniary interest were received.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 22 April 2024 be confirmed as a correct record.

To consider passing the following resolution:

That, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act, 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act.  The Public Interest Test has been applied and favours exclusion of the information from the Press and Public.

RESOLVED:

That, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act, 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item(s) of business on the grounds that it/they would involve(s) the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act. The Public Interest Test has been applied and favours exclusion of the information from the press and public.

The Committee considered the report of the Executive Director of Corporate Services and Commercial relating to recruitment to the post of Head of HR & Workforce.

RESOLVED: That

(1)           the shortlist of candidates for progression to the final interview stage be approved.

(2)           it be noted that:

(a)    the former job title of Chief Personnel Officer was redesignated to Head of HR & Workforce to reflect the role more accurately. The grade remains at Hay 4, salary £83,049 per annum (pay award pending).

(b)    the recruitment agency Starfish carried out an executive search on behalf of the Council and an online advert was placed in the Guardian and Personnel Management. The job was also advertised on Jobs Go Public and Sefton’s website, along with appropriate social media such as the Council’s ‘X’ feed, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

(c)    a copy of the job advertisement was at Appendix 1of the report submitted.

(d)    the job description and person specification were set out at Appendix 2 of the report submitted.

(e)    technical interviews had been held on 10July 2024. The Executive Director of Corporate Services and Commercial provide feedback on to support the recommendation of who should progress to the final interview stage.