Issue - meetings
Appointment of Section 151 and Monitoring Officers
Meeting: 19/12/2019 - South Somerset District Council (Item 83)
83 Appointment of Section 151 and Monitoring Officers PDF 90 KB
Decision:
RESOLVED: |
That Full Council agreed to:- |
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a. |
note that the current Section 151 arrangement with Somerset West & Taunton Council will come to an end at the end of December 2019, and the current S151Officer, Paul Fitzgerald, will no longer be acting in this role on behalf of South Somerset District Council;
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b. |
endorse the decision of the Appointments Committee to appoint Joanne Nacey as the new permanent S151 Officer;
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c. |
endorse the appointment of Nicola Hix into the role as Interim S151 Officer effective immediately, to cover the period between the current S151 Officer leaving, and the new permanent employee starting their role;
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d. |
endorse the appointment of Richard Ward as Interim Monitoring Officer effective immediately, whilst another recruitment process is undertaken to appoint a permanent member of staff into this role.
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Reason: |
To confirm for the appointment of two of the Councils key statutory roles; the Council’s Section 151 Officer, and the Monitoring Officer. |
(Voting: 28 in favour, 0 against, 8 abstentions)
Minutes:
The Leader of Council advised that the Local Government Act 1972 required all Local Authorities to appoint a suitably qualified officer to be responsible for their financial affairs. The Local Government and Housing Act 1989, Section 5, outlined the legal basis for the Monitoring Officer. She noted that both posts had been advertised and a suitable candidate had been found for the post of Section 151 Officer, who was currently the Deputy Section 151 Officer at Mid-Devon DC and she would take the position in 3 months time. The position of Monitoring Officer would be re-advertised and an interim Monitoring Officer, Richard Ward was proposed to be appointed with immediate effect, whilst another recruitment process was undertaken to appoint a permanent member of staff into this role.
In response to a question from the Leader of the Conservative Group, the Chief Executive confirmed that all the members of the Appointment Panel had been invited to participate in the appointment process but only 3 had chosen to do so.
Councillor Peter Seib, as Portfolio Holder for Finance and Legal Services, confirmed that proper process had been followed and rigorous testing of the candidates had taken place during the appointment process.
It was proposed and seconded that Council endorse the recommendations for the appointment of officers and, on being put to the vote were carried by 26 in favour, 0 against and 8 abstentions.
RESOLVED: |
That Full Council agreed to:- |
|
|
a. |
note that the current Section 151 arrangement with Somerset West & Taunton Council will come to an end at the end of December 2019, and the current S151Officer, Paul Fitzgerald, will no longer be acting in this role on behalf of South Somerset District Council;
|
|
b. |
endorse the decision of the Appointments Committee to appoint Joanne Nacey as the new permanent S151 Officer;
|
|
c. |
endorse the appointment of Nicola Hix into the role as Interim S151 Officer effective immediately, to cover the period between the current S151 Officer leaving, and the new permanent employee starting their role;
|
|
d. |
endorse the appointment of Richard Ward as Interim Monitoring Officer effective immediately, whilst another recruitment process is undertaken to appoint a permanent member of staff into this role.
|
Reason: |
To confirm for the appointment of two of the Councils key statutory roles; the Council’s Section 151 Officer, and the Monitoring Officer. |
(Voting: 28 in favour, 0 against, 8 abstentions)