Agenda and draft minutes

To receive any apologies for absence from Members.

No apologies received, all Committee Members present.

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. 

The minutes of the 17^th October 2024 Part A were agreed.

Dean Shoesmith, Chief People Officer, and Susmita Sen, Corporate Director of Housing, introduced the report, noting that the Director of Housing, New Build & Estate Regeneration position would be a new post.

Various benchmarking using a London Council’s pay datebase and market knowledge had demonstrated that a special occupational scarcity allowance needed to be applied, and it was confirmed that sufficient budget existed for the post.

Susmita explained that the new post was key to developing the new housing supply in Croydon - working with developers and housing partners including government and agencies to deliver the borough’s housing targets.

In response to a question from Cllr King, Dean Shoesmith explained that Council would make the decision on considering and agreeing the Council’s Pay Policy Statement, however the decision around the Market Supplement Policy and Special Occupational Scarcity Allowance had already been taken by the CE under delegated authority by the Committee. Dean confirmed that the report to Council on the Pay Policy Statement would clarify that point.

The Committee RESOLVED:

2.1 To note that the Chief Executive under delegated decision-making powers has amended the Market Supplement Policy to include provision for a special occupational scarcity allowance. To note that Full Council will note the variation and updating of the Pay Policy Statement 2024/25 noting provision for an occupational skills scarcity payment as set out in paragraph 3.3 of the report, [and] Agree:

(i) the salary package for the post of Director of Housing, New Build & Estate Regeneration Grade 2, £115,000-£119,564, plus a special allowance payment of 2 up to £5,436 per year, a maximum of £125,000 per year total annual renumeration

2.2 Undertake the selection for and agree an appointment to the post Director of Housing, New Build & Estate Regeneration from the candidate(s) detailed in the Exempt/Part B Appendix 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 paragraph 1 and 2 as indicated in Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended.”

The Chair proposed and Committee agreed 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”.

To consider and approve the minutes of the 17^th October 2024 (Part B)

The minutes of the 17^th October 2024 Part B were considered under Part B.

The item was considered under Part B of the meeting.