To consider the above report

Members considered appointment of the Managing Director and Head of Paid Service.

Councillor Targowska explained the recommendation was being put to Council following an extensive recruitment process. She highlighted the fantastic work of officers, including the Head of HR and Corporate Projects, in finding the best possible candidate. The process had begun in August 2018 with the appointment of Solace. The advert had received 39 applications which was reduced to a short list of 11 following a technical assessment by a former London borough Chief Executive. A shortlist of five candidates attended an assessment day which included psychometric testing, a panel discussion with external stakeholders and one on one meetings with the Leader and Deputy Leader. Two candidates had attended a final panel selection interview. The panel comprised the Leader, Deputy Leader, and Lead Members for HR, Children’s Services, Adult Services and Planning. The panel unanimously agreed to recommend the appointment of Duncan Sharkey.

Councillor Jones stated that she had not been allowed to attend the Part II element of the Employment and Member Standards Panel meeting that had established the process. She understood the reasons for this, however she was subsequently surprised that no Opposition Members had been invited to participate  in the selection or shortlisting process. Without this participation she did not feel that she had enough evidence to make a decision and would therefore abstain.

Councillor Stretton echoed the comments of Councillor Jones. It sounded like a robust process but she had no evidence. Councillor Hunt commented that all councillors would have liked to have been involved but she understood it was left in the best hands to decide the process.  Councillor Stretton responded that she did not expect all to be involved, but she would have expected at least one representative from the Opposition to have been included.

Councillor Hill commented on ‘the incredible HR mystery’ that had led to the loss of a credible Head of Paid Service. He felt that questions from councillors on this had gone unanswered. He had attended the Employment and Member Standards Panel as a substitute and had tried to raise concerns in the Part I section of the meeting but had been stopped. He would abstain due to a lack of information.

Councillor Dudley stated that the recruitment had been an enormously rigorous process. The advert had been placed in the Sunday Times, the MJ and via Linked In. a significant number of applicants had come forward. Six members of Cabinet were involved in the last part of the process with the two final candidates. All panel members had independently recommended Duncan Sharkey and therefore the decision was unanimous. On behalf of all Members, Councillor Dudley placed on record his thanks to Russell O’Keefe who was an extremely skilled and competent local government officer and had done an excellent job as Acting Managing Director. He also thanked Andy Jeffs, Executive Director and other senior officers.  Duncan Sharkey was joining the borough from Milton Keynes. He had already dealt with a number of the issues the borough needed to address. Councillor Dudley was sure that Duncan Sharkey would be pleased to meet with Councillor Jones and the rest of the Opposition.

Councillor Targowska explained that the interview panel recommended the appointment to the Employment and Member Standards Panel; the decision was then brought to Full Council for ratification. In response to Councillor Hill she stated that she did not believe that any Councillor questions had gone unanswered. Councillor Hill had not been stopped from speaking; as Chairman she had stopped him from speaking on a Part II item in Part I. He had been given a full opportunity to speak in the Part II section of the meeting. Councillor Targowska thanked Russell O’Keefe for his hard work as Acting Managing Director.

It was proposed by Councillor Targowska, seconded by Councillor Dudley, and:

RESOLVED: That Council notes the report and approves the recommendation from the Employment and Member Standards Panel that:

i)          Duncan Sharkey be appointed to the permanent position of Managing Director and Head of Paid Service.

ii)         The appointment to commence from February 2019.

iii)       The appointment at a salary of £149,000 per annum, within the Managing Director salary band of £122,400 - £149,083.

(41 Councillors voted for the motion; Councillor M. Airey, N. Airey, Alexander, Bateson, Bhatti, Bicknell, Bowden, Brimacombe, Bullock, Cannon, Coppinger, Diment, Dudley, D. Evans, Gilmore, Hilton, Hollingsworth, Hunt, Ilyas, Kellaway, Lion, Love, Luxton, Majeed, McWilliams, Mills, Muir, Quick, Rankin, S. Rayner, Richards, Sharma, Sharp, Sharpe, Shelim, Smith, Story, Targowska, D. Wilson, E. Wilson and Yong. 4 Councillors abstained: Councillors Beer, Hill, Jones and Stretton)