Agenda item

Urgent Matters - Appointment the the Post of Interim Group Head of Corporate Support and Section 151 Officer

To deal with business not otherwise specified in the Council summons which, in the opinion of the Chairman of the Council (in consultation with the Chief Executive), is business of such urgency as to require immediate attention by the Council.

Minutes:

            Having confirmed that there were no items for this meeting, the Leader of the Council, Councillor Walsh requested to speak.

 

            Councillor Walsh made a brief statement. He confirmed that he recognised the reality that the results of the two District By-Elections held on 6 May 2021 for the Brookfield and Pevensey Wards meant for the Council which had been heightened by Councillor Staniforth leaving the Liberal Democrat Group and joining the Conservatives. This meant that the Conservatives were now the largest Group on the Council and would no doubt be wishing to put into place a new administration by next Wednesday, the date of the Annual Council Meeting. To ensure an orderly transfer as possible at that meeting on 19 May 2021, Councillor Walsh confirmed that having consulted with the Chief Executive and the Leader of the Conservative Group, he would now cancel the meeting of Cabinet scheduled for 17 May 2021 and could confirm that no Member of the Cabinet, between now and the Annual Council Meeting, would make any Individual Cabinet Member Decisions.

 

            Councillor Walsh confirmed that he hoped that this announcement would allow the Council to deal efficiently with the business for tonight’s meeting and at the Annual Meeting of the Council in the spirit of true co-operation.

 

            In view of this announcement and the cancellation of Cabinet on 17 May 2021, the Chief Executive confirmed that there was an urgent item that now needed to be considered. This was to approve the interim appointment to the post of Group Head of Corporate Support (Section 151 Officer).

 

            The Chief Executive summarised the report confirming that the Group Head of Corporate Support, Alan Peach, had been in post since 1 April 2017 but had firstly joined the Council in October 1982. After such long service, Alan had decided to retire and would be leaving Arun on 30 June 2021.  Due to owed annual leave, Alan’s last working day at Arun would be 21 May 2021.

 

            The Council’s Financial Services Manager, Carolin Martlew, had been taking part in developmental activities as part of a succession planning programme which had included undertaking many duties of the Section 151 Officer, she was currently Deputy Section 151 Officer.

 

            The Chief Executive confirmed that the Council proposed to appoint Carolin o an interim basis for a period of between 12 to 18 months to allow her to undertake the role in its entirety and allowing her to be able to fairly compete with external applicants and to allow the Council time to organise a comprehensive recruitment and selection process for this role.

 

            Within the Council’s Constitution, at Part 6, Procedure Rules, Section 7 [Officer Employment] Section 2.0 [Recruitment and Appointment] Paragraph 2.6 if stated that any object to such an appointment needed to be made by the Leader of the Council on behalf of the Cabinet to the Chief Executive within 5 working days.  The Chief Executive confirmed that no objection had been received to the proposals.

 

            The Council was therefore being asked to:

 

(1)  Approve the appointment of Carolin Martlew, Arun’s current Financial Services Manager, to the post of interim Group Head for Corporate Support and Section 151 Officer for a period of between 12 to 18 months, at which point a formal competitive selection process for a permanent post will apply; and

 

(2)  To acknowledge and formally recognise Alan Peach’s long standing contribution to Arun District Council.

 

            Councillor Gunner then confirmed that he wished to move a Motion without Notice to adjourn the meeting for a period of half an hour. This was seconded by Councillor Kelly.

 

            In response, the Interim Monitoring Officer was asked if this could happen without providing a reason why.

 

            The Interim Monitoring Officer confirmed that this Motion without Notice has been moved and seconded in the middle of consideration of another item and he recommended that the urgent item on the interim appointment to the post of Group Head of Corporate Support should be concluded first.

 

            The Chairman then continued with the urgent item before the Council.

 

            Having had the two recommendations presented to the meeting, the Council

 

            RESOLVED – That

 

(1)          Approve the appointment of Carolin Martlew, Arun’s current Financial Services Manager, to the post of interim Group Head for Corporate Support and Section 151 Officer for a period of between 12 to 18 months, at which point a formal competitive selection process for a permanent post will apply; and

 

(2)          To acknowledge and formally recognise Alan Peach’s long standing contribution to Arun District Council.

 

            The Chairman then returned to Councillor Gunner’s request to adjourn the meeting for half an hour and the Interim Monitoring Officer was asked to provide advice. He sought clarification as to whether this Motion without Notice was Council Procedure Rule 15 (l) to adjourn the meeting or if this Motion without Notice related to adjourning the meeting for a short period of time, clarification was sought. 

 

            Before putting this Motion without Notice to the vote, Councillor Gunner was asked to explain why this Motion had been put.

           

            Councillor Gunner confirmed that he wished to have a discussion with his Group following the statement that had been made by Councillor Walsh, as this had not been what he had expected and in light of this, he now needed to discuss with his Group how to proceed with this meeting in view of this fact.

 

            A Point of Order was then raised in response as the Constitution did allow a Motion without Notice to be put to adjourn a meeting but not to adjourn a meeting for a period of time to allow consultation with Group Members to take place. Clarification was sought.

 

            The Chief Executive confirmed that in view of the unexpected announcement that had been made by Councillor Walsh, the requested adjournment to take a short break be permitted. 

 

            Following various Points of Order raised, the Chairman confirmed the adjournment.

 

            The Chairman then called Councillor Gunner to speak following the adjournment to the meeting that he had requested. Councillor Gunner stated that he anticipated that it was Councillor Walsh that may have something to say and that if this was the case, he would then respond.

 

            Councillor Walsh then repeated his statement made earlier confirming that he recognised a new reality that existed following the two District By-Elections recently held and the victory achieved by the Conservative Group  and that Councillor Staniforth, following these elections, had shifted parties by joining the Conservative Group, making it the largest party in Arun. He acknowledged that this meant that the Conservative would wish to form a new administration under their leadership at the Annual Council Meeting on 19 May 2021.  Councillor Walsh confirmed that he wished for an orderly transfer as possible, and to assist in achieving this and in the spirit of co-operation, he would cancel the Cabinet meeting scheduled for 17 May 2021 and would provide assurance that no Cabinet Members would make Individual Cabinet Member decisions between now and the Annual Council Meeting. Finally, he confirmed that at the beginning of next week’s Annual Council Meeting he would stand down as Leader of the Council.