Decision details


Appointment of Chief Executive / Head of Paid Service

Decision Maker: Council

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: No

Is subject to call in?: No

Decision:

Resolved

 

That, subject to South Northamptonshire Council resolving in similar terms at its meeting on 23 March 2017:

 

(1)          The recommendation of the Joint Commissioning Committee that Yvonne Rees be appointed Joint Chief Executive from a date to be agreed in June/July 2017with the new post holder by the Interim Head of Paid Service in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer, Head of Law and Governance, Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Joint Commissioning Committee be agreed.

 

(2)          The recommendation of the Joint Commissioning Committee that Yvonne Rees be appointed the Council’s Head of Paid Service for the purposes of Section 4 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 with effect from a date to be agreed in June/July 2017 with the new post holder by the Interim Head of Paid Service in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer, Head of Law and Governance, Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Joint Commissioning Committee be agreed.

 

(3)          It be agreed that, in accordance with Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 and all related legislation, Yvonne Rees be appointed as Electoral Registration Officer for Cherwell District and South Northamptonshire Councils from a date to be agreed in June/July 2017 with the new post holder by the Interim Head of Paid Service in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer, Head of Law and Governance, Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Joint Commissioning Committee.

 

(4)          It be agreed that, in accordance with Section 35 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 and all related legislation Yvonne Rees be appointed as Returning Officer for Cherwell District and South Northamptonshire Councils with authority to act in that capacity for elections to the Council and all parish and town councils within the area of both councils; from a date to be agreed in June/July 2017with the new post holder by the Interim Head of Paid Service in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer, Head of Law and Governance, Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Joint Commissioning Committee.

 

(5)          It be agreed that Yvonne Rees be also appointed or authorised to act in respect of all related electoral, polling or referendum duties, including in relation to County Council elections, elections to the European Parliament, and for national and regional polls or referendums and be authorised to exercise all delegated powers of the Returning Officer and Electoral Registration Officer as set out in the constitution; from a date to be agreed in June/July 2017with the new post holder by the Interim Head of Paid Service in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer, Head of Law and Governance, Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Joint Commissioning Committee.

 

(6)          It be agreed that, in relation to the duties of Returning Officer or any other electoral, referendum or polling duties arising from such appointment, the Returning Officer shall be entitled to be remunerated in accordance with the scale of fees approved from time to time by Council for local elections, or the relevant scale of fees prescribed by a Fees Order in respect of national, regional or European Parliament elections, polls or referendums.

 

(7)          It be agreed that in all cases where it is a legal requirement or normal practice to do so, the Returning Officer may elect for such fees to be superannuable, and the Council shall pay the appropriate employer's contribution to the superannuation fund, recovering such employer's contributions from central government or other local authorities or agencies where this can be done.

 

(8)          It be agreed that, in relation to the conduct of local authority elections and polls, and elections to the United Kingdom Parliament, and all other electoral duties where the Councils are entitled by law to do so, they shall take out and maintain in force insurance indemnifying the Councils, the Electoral Registration Officer and the Returning Officer against legal expenses reasonably incurred in connection with the defence of any proceedings brought against the Councils, Electoral Registration Officer or the Returning Officer and/or the cost of holding another election in the event of the original election being declared invalid (provided that such proceedings or invalidation are the result of the inadvertent contravention of  the Representation of the People Acts or other legislation governing the electoral process, and provided that, in the case of the Electoral Registration Officer and the Returning Officer, such proceedings or invalidation arise from an act or omission which the Officer reasonably believes is within the Officer’s powers).

 

(9)          It be agreed that, in the event of such insurance carrying an 'excess' clause by which an initial portion of risk is not insured, the Councils, through their internal insurance fund or otherwise, will indemnify the Electoral Registration Officer and Returning Officer up to the value of such excess.

 

(10)       The Councils duty to provide support to the Electoral Registration Officer and Returning Officer be noted.

 

(11)       It be agreed that the terms of appointment of Ian Davies as Interim Joint Head of Paid Service and Paul Sutton as Interim Returning Officer and Interim Electoral Registration Officer end on the date on which the new permanent Joint Chief Executive takes up her post.

 

Publication date: 23/03/2017

Date of decision: 22/03/2017

Decided at meeting: 22/03/2017 - Council

Accompanying Documents: