Agenda and minutes

Members are asked to declare any interest and the nature of that interest that they may have in any of the items under consideration at this meeting.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Chairman to report on any requests to submit petitions or to address the meeting.

There were no petitions or requests to address the meeting.

To receive communications from the Chairman.

There were no Chairman’s announcements.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 7 April 2016.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 7 April 2016 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

The Chairman to advise whether they have agreed to any item or urgent business being admitted to the agenda.

There were no items of urgent business.

The following item of business contains exempt information as defined in the following paragraphs of Part 1, Schedule 12A of Local Government Act 1972.

1             Information relating to any individual

2             Information which is likely to reveal the identity of an individual

3             Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)

4             Information relating to any consultations or negotiations, or contemplated consultations or negotiations, in connection with any labour relations matter arising between the authority or a Minister of the Crown and employees of, or office holders under, the authority.

Members are reminded that whilst the following items have been marked as exempt, it is for the meeting to decide whether or not to consider each of them in private or in public. In making the decision, members should balance the interests of individuals or the Council itself in having access to the information. In considering their discretion members should also be mindful of the advice of Council Officers.

Should Members decide not to make a decision in public, they are recommended to pass the following recommendation:

“That, in accordance with Section 100A(4) of Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business, on the grounds that they could involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1, 2, 3 and 4 of Schedule 12A of that Act.”

Resolved

That, in accordance with Section 100A(4) of Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business, on the grounds that they could involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1, 2, 3 and 4 of Schedule 12A of that Act.

Exempt Report of Head of Regeneration and Housing

The Committee considered an exempt report of the Head of Regeneration and Housing which presented the draft business case for a Joint Property and Investment Service across Cherwell District and South Northamptonshire Councils.

Resolved

(1)          That the draft business case for a Joint Property and Investment Service be endorsed as a basis for consultation with staff and trade unions.

(2)          That it be noted that the financial case would be finalised once the job evaluation process had been completed and that costs were not expected to be higher than those included in the draft business case, but may be lower.

(3)          That it be noted that the job evaluation process was underway and was expected to be completed in the next month and that consultation with staff would not commence until the completion of the job evaluation process.

(All officers, with the exception of the Chief Executive, left the meeting at the conclusion of this item)

Information for this item will be circulated to Joint Commissioning Committee members separately to this agenda pack.

The Committee agreed the candidates for interview at their meeting on 7 April 2016. Berwick Partners, who have been appointed to oversee the recruitment process, are currently liaising with candidates and the interview schedule and pack will be circulated to Committee members when it has been finalised by Berwick Partners.

The committee considered the applications that had been received for the post of Chief Finance Officer. The committee saw each of the short listed applicants in turn and asked them a number of questions.

Following the interviews the committee evaluated the applications and considered the supporting information from the assessment centre.

Resolved

(1)          That Paul Sutton be appointed to the post of Chief Finance Officer.

(The Democratic and Elections Team Leader re-joined the meeting at the conclusion of this item)

Exempt Report of Chief Executive

The Chief Executive submitted an exempt report which provided an update on the management restructure.

Resolved

(1)          That the update on the implementation of Phase 1 be noted.

(2)          That agreement be given to pause the implementation of Phase 2 until there was more clarity on the unitary discussions in Oxfordshire and Northamptonshire.

(3)          That the Chief Executive be asked to review the capacity and skills required to deliver business as usual, the transformation programme and to contribute as appropriate to the studies to explore the options for the delivery of public services in Northamptonshire and Oxfordshire; and to organise the resources of the two councils accordingly.