Agenda and minutes

To elect the Chair of the Council until the Annual Meeting on 25^th May 2023.

Nominations were sought for the office of Chair of North Northamptonshire Council for the Municipal Year 2023/2024.

Councillor Gill Mercer MOVED the nomination of Councillor Barbara Jenney. Councillor Jon-Paul Carr SECONDED the nomination. No other nominations had been received.

RESOLVED that: -

Councillor Barbara Jenney be elected as Chair of North Northamptonshire Council for the Municipal Year 2023/2024.

To appoint the Vice Chair of the Council until the Annual Meeting on 25^th May 2023.

Nominations were sought for the office of Vice Chair of North Northamptonshire Council for the Municipal Year 2023/2024.

Councillor Philip Irwin MOVED the nomination of Councillor Lora Lawman. Councillor Wendy Brackenbury SECONDED the nomination. No other nominations had been received.

RESOLVED that: -

Councillor Lora Lawman be appointed as Vice Chair of North Northamptonshire Council for the Municipal Year 2023/2024.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillors Valerie Anslow, Charlie Best, Martin Griffiths, Mark Pengelly, David Sims, Geoff Shacklock and Kevin Watt.

Members to declare any interest as appropriate in respect of items to be considered at the meeting.

There were no Declarations of Interest on this occasion.

The minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 30^th March 2023 to be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

The minutes of the Full Council meeting held on 30^th March 2023 had been circulated.

Councillor Barbara Jenney MOVED that the minutes be agreed. Councillor Andy Mercer SECONDED.

RESOLVED that: -

The minutes of the Full Council meeting held on the 30^th March 2023 be agreed.

The Chair introduced two guest speakers from a local charity Encompass, who provided a brief presentation to members on the work of the charity. The Chair was keen to highlight the work of the organisation in assisting those facing poverty, homelessness and addiction, and encouraged members to raise their awareness of the important role the charity played across North Northamptonshire.

This is an information report only confirming Group leadership for 2023/24.

         Political Group Leadership

Council received a report confirming the leadership of the recognised political groups for the Municipal Year 2023/24.

• Leader of the Conservative Group – Councillor Jason Smithers
• Deputy Leader of the Conservative Group – Councillor Helen Howell
• Leader of the Labour Group – Councillor Matt Keane
• Deputy Leader of the Labour Group – Councillor Leanne Buckingham
• Leader of the Green Alliance Group – Councillor Emily Fedorowycz
• Deputy Leader of the Green Alliance Group – Councillor Jim Hakewill

RESOLVED that: -

(i)               The leadership arrangements of the recognised political groups for the Municipal Year 2023/24 be noted.

To receive any announcements from the Leader.

Councillor Smithers (Leader of the Council) addressed Council. The Leader summarised key challenges faced by the Council over the previous 12-months together with achievements. The Leader praised the Council’s staff on their dedication and hard work and thanked the outgoing Chief Executive, Rob Bridge, for his leadership during the first two years of the new council.

Councillor Matt Keane (Leader of the Labour Group) and Councillor Emily Fedorowycz (Leader of the Green Alliance) also addressed Council.

The Council is requested to note the appointment of the Deputy Leader as may be announced by the Leader.

The Council is requested to note the appointment of members of Executive and Executive Portfolios as may be announced by the Leader.

The Leader of the Council (Councillor Jason Smithers) informed Council of the Executive appointments for 2023/24 which remained unchanged from the previous year.

To consider and determine the allocation of seats to Committees in accordance with political balance rules set out in the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.

Full Council was requested to confirm the membership of the Council’s committees and bodies, where it was the responsibility of Full Council to make such appointments. Details of nominations received from the recognised political groups had been circulated prior to the meeting.

It was noted that the Monitoring Officer had delegated authority, upon receiving a request from a recognised political group, to authorise in-year changes to membership.

Councillor Helen Harrison MOVED and Councillor Helen Howell SECONDED recommendations (a), (b) & (d) as detailed in the report, to agree the political proportionality applied as per Appendix A, to note the respective group nominations to committees as contained in Appendix B, and to note the delegation of the Monitoring Officer.

RESOLVED that: -

(i)               The proportionality rules applied be noted (as detailed in Appendix A);

(ii)              The appointments to committees made by the recognised political groups be noted (as detailed in Appendix B)

(iii)            The delegated authority granted to the Monitoring Officer to make any in-year changes to the membership of committees on behalf of the Council, in consultation with the respective leaders of the recognised political groups, be noted.

Nominations for the positions of Chair and Vice Chair of committees in the gift of Full Council had been sought. Details of the nominations received had been circulated.

Councillor Andy Mercer MOVED, and Councillor Emily Fedorowycz SECONDED the uncontested nominations only as detailed in the report and appendices.

RESOLVED that: -

(i)               The appointments to the Chair and Vice Chair positions as detailed below be agreed -

For the position of Chair of the Corporate Scrutiny Committee two nominations had been received. Councillor Keane MOVED and Councillor John McGhee SECONDED the nomination of Councillor Lyn Buckingham. Councillor Fedorowycz MOVED and Councillor Dell SECONDED the nomination of Councillor Hakewill.

RESOLVED that: -

(i)               Councillor Lyn Buckingham be elected as Chair of the Corporate Scrutiny Committee.  ...  view the full minutes text for item C/236

To note the appointments to strategic outside bodies made by the Leader and to consider and determine the appointments to community outside bodies.

The Monitoring Officer introduced this item, which provided details of the proposed Outside Bodies appointments for 2023/24. The proposed list of both Strategic and Community appointments had been formulated following a review by Scrutiny members. Strategic appointments were in the gift of the Executive, Community appointments were the responsibility of Full Council. Nominations for the Community appointments had been sought and were detailed in the report.

An addendum indicating some amendments to Outside Bodies representation had been circulated to members.

Under this item, Councillor Hakewill queried whether Councillor Pengelly could be reinstated as the Council’s representative on APSE for 2023/24. The Monitoring Officer confirmed that following discussion with APSE, the Council were able to appoint two representatives and Councillor Pengelly would be added. This was duly noted.

An addendum indicating some amendments to Outside Bodies representation had been circulated to members.

RESOLVED that: -

(i)               Council notes the Strategic Outside Bodies representation detailed in the report and addendum; and

(ii)              Council notes the Community Outside Bodies representation detailed in the report and addendum (as amended).

To recommend the appointment of the Interim Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service statutory designation.

Council received a report recommending the appointment of an Interim Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service with effect from 29^th May 2023.

The Chief Executive (Rob Bridge) resigned his position on 27^th March 2023 and would be leaving the employment of NNC on 4^th June 2023.

In order to ensure continuity in leadership and strategic direction, Council agreed an interim recruitment process and timeframe on 30^th March 2023. This comprised of inviting expressions of interest from interested persons from within the Corporate Leadership Team and a panel interview, undertaken by the following members:

·        Councillor Jason Smithers (Leader of the Council) (Chair)

·        Councillor Helen Howell (Deputy Leader)

·        Councillor Barbara Jenney (Chair of the Employment Committee)

·        Councillor John McGhee (Leader of the Labour Group)

Interviews took place at the Corby Cube on Wednesday 27^th April 2023. Candidates were assessed by the panel through a range of structured questions, based on the requirements of the person specification for the role.

In accordance with the Local Authorities’ (Standing Orders) (England) Regulations 2001 as set out in the Council’s Constitution (Part 8.4, Officer Employment Procedure Rules) the name of the person to be offered the appointment was sent to all Executive Members asking for any justified objections to the making of an offer to be submitted to the Assistant Director of Human Resources. No objections were received.

A conditional offer had been made to the successful candidate, subject to the approval of Full Council.

The recommendations were MOVED by Councillor Helen Howell and SECONDED by Councillor John McGhee.

RESOLVED that: -

(i)               George Candler be appointed as Interim Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service    with effect from 29^th May 2023; and

(ii)              That a salary of £174,475 would be paid for the duration of the interim appointment, in       accordance with the Council’s agreed Pay Policy.

Meeting closed at 7:22 pm.