Agenda and draft minutes

To receive any apologies for absence from Members.

Cllr Hale and Cllr Mollyneaux had given apologies, with Cllr Gatland and Cllr Foster attended the meeting as reserve members respectively.

Members and co-opted Members of the Council are reminded that, in accordance with the Members’ Code of Conduct and the statutory provisions of the Localism Act 2011, they are required to consider in advance of each meeting whether they have a disclosable pecuniary interest (DPI), some other registrable interest (ORI) or a non-registrable interest (NRI) in relation to any matter on the agenda. If advice is needed, Members should contact the Monitoring Officer in good time before the meeting. If any Member or co-opted Member of the Council identifies a DPI or ORI which they have not already registered on the Council’s register of interests or which requires updating, they must urgently complete the disclosure form which can be obtained from Democratic Services at any time, copies of which will be available at the meeting for return to the Monitoring Officer.

Members and co-opted Members are required in general to disclose any relevant DPIs, ORIs or NRIs at the meeting –

•         Where the matter relates to a DPI they may not participate in any discussion or vote on the matter and must not stay in the room unless granted a dispensation.

•         Where the matter directly relates to the financial interest or wellbeing of an ORI they may not vote on the matter unless granted a dispensation.

•         Where a Member or co-opted Member has an NRI which directly relates to or affects their or a relevant person’s financial interest or wellbeing, whether they can participate in any discussion or vote on the matter or stay in the room depends on the detailed rules in paragraphs 7 of Appendix B of the Members’ Code of Conduct.

The Chair will invite Members to make their disclosure of interests orally at the meeting and they will also be recorded in the minutes.

Members confirmed that their entries on the Council’s register of interests were up to date and that they had no further disclosures to make. 

With regards to meeting arrangements, the Chair agreed that Debbie Jones, Corporate Director for CYP & Education could provide a briefing under Part B (as new agenda item8) regarding social worker practice to help further inform the recruitment process.

Katherine Kerswell, Chief Executive and Dean Shoesmith, Chief of People, presented the report to the Committee.

As detailed in the report, the Committee at the 30^th July 2024 meeting the payment of a special occupational scarcity allowance of £14,853 per year for this role, given the market and below market rate of the then proposed salary.

This was subject to the council’s market supplement market policy being amended to include a scarcity allowance. The Committee was informed that the Chief Executive had subsequently exercised the decision to amend using her delegated powers.

The CE outlined that the position was a key appointment to the Corporate Management Team and a statutory post – a critical appointment as Croydon also had the highest number of children and young people of any London Borough.

Whilst the post was leading CYP social care, the role’s Education responsibilities could further expand as the new government was looking at reinstating some additional powers related to Education to local authorities.

It was noted that CYPS/Education directorate had the largest number of staff and was presented with the challenge of balancing critical safeguarding responsibility with balancing budget pressures.

Cllr King supported the recommendations and was noted the updated Pay Policy would be received at Dec 2024 Full Council. It was also highlighted the report used inconsistent terms e.g., ‘special allowance payment’ and ‘special occupancy scarcity allowance’. This would be corrected by officers for the Council meeting. 

The Committee RESOLVED to:

2.1) Agree the salary package for the post of Corporate Director of Children, Young People & Education Grade 5, £151,131-£160,147 per annum plus special allowance payment to a maximum of £175,000 total annual renumeration. See section 3.3 below

2.2) Undertake the selection for and agree an appointment to the post Corporate Director of Children, Young People & Education from the candidate(s) detailed in the Exempt/Part B Appendix B attached to this report.

2.3) Note that any appointment will be subject to the appointment notification process set out in section 3.3 of part 4J of the Council’s Constitution (Staff Employment Procedure Rules).

The following motion is to be moved and seconded where it is proposed to exclude the press and public from the remainder of a meeting or a particular item:

“That, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act, 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information falling within paragraphs 1 and 2 indicated in Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended.”

Due to the need to consider remaining agenda items as Part B including Part B minutes of the meeting held on the 13^th September 2024, the following motion was proposed:

The Executive Mayor Perry moved, to exclude the press and public for the remainder of the meeting. “That, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information falling within paragraphs 1 and 2 as indicated in Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended”. This was seconded and agreed.

The Part A open meeting stopped broadcasting and moved to confidential session.

To agree Part B minutes of the previous meeting held on the 13^th September 2024.

Item Considered under Part B

Item Considered under Part B