Agenda item

The report informs members of the process followed by the Chief Executive’s Recruitment and Selection Panel for the selection of a permanent Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service and recommends that Full Council confirms the appointment of the Panel’s preferred candidate and appoints them as the Council’s Returning Officer and its Electoral Registration Officer. 

Before inviting the Leader of the Council, Councillor Stanley, to present the report, the Chair drew Members’ attention to the supplement that had been emailed on 8 May 2024 providing two Exempt papers, which had been circulated to the meeting. The Exempt item provided an information paper about the candidate and the recommendations of the Chief Executive Recruitment and Selection Panel meeting held on 23 April 2024. Members were reminded that should there be the need to discuss or refer to these papers, it would be necessary to move into Exempt business.

Councillor Stanley then presented a report from the Group Head of Organisational Excellence which reminded Members that at Full Council in January 2024, the Council had resolved to proceed with external recruitment for a permanent Chief Executive.  The Chief Executive’s Recruitment and Selection Panel had delegated responsibility for this confidential process, which had been explained fully at Section 4 of the report.  The appointment of the Chief Executive was a decision of Full Council based on a recommendation from the CEO Recruitment and Selection Panel.

Councillor Stanley reassured Members that the process undertaken had been robust and had included several stages including consultation with members of the Recruitment and Selection Panel at each of those stages. This was longlisting, shortlisting and a formal interview with the Panel on 23 April 2024.  

The Chief Executive’s Recruitment and Selection Panel then met formally on 23 April 2024 and made recommendations at 2.1 (i) and (ii) that Full Council confirms the appointment of their preferred candidate and that they are also appointed as the Council’s Returning Officer and Electoral Registration Officer with effect from the start date of their employment with Arun District Council.

Due to the need to complete the final confidential stages of the recruitment process and be mindful of the candidate’s current employer, members had received the minutes of the Recruitment and Selection Panel, along with a career summary for the preferred candidate, circulated to them as exempt items in advance of the meeting.

Councillor Stanley outlined that the candidate had a wide range of skills and experience working across a range of different councils and services and had worked in no overall control and committee environments. They had demonstrated energy, drive and integrity and an understanding of the issues that faced the Council. Councillor Stanley therefore formally proposed that the Council support the recommendations set out in 2.1 (i) and (ii) of the report.  Councillor Birch then seconded the recommendations.

Finally, Councillor Stanley wished to have formally placed on record the Council’s thanks to the Joint Interim Chief Executives, Karl Roberts and Philippa Dart for their sterling work over the past year.

The Council

            RESOLVED – That

(1)  It confirms the appointment of the preferred candidate as recommended by the Chief Executive’s Recruitment and Selection Panel and set out in the Exempt appendices circulated separately to the agenda and at the meeting; and

(2)  Appoints the Chief Executive’s Recruitment and Selection Panel’s preferred candidate as the Council’s Returning Officer and Electoral Registration Officer with effect from the start date of their employment with Arun District Council.

Having confirmed the result of the vote, the Chair confirmed that the successful candidate was Dawn Hudd who was currently the Strategy Director of Place at Guildford and Waverley Council.