Agenda and minutes

The Mayor to report apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs David Else, John Fraser, Pat Frost, Ged Hall, Jill Hargreaves, Stephen Hill, Christiaan Hesse, Simon Inchbald, Robert Knowles, Martin Lear, Kika Mirylees, Libby Piper, Stefan Reynolds, Jeanette and Stewart Stennett, Liz Townsend, Liz Wheatley and John Williamson.

To receive from Members, declarations of interest in relation to any items included on the agenda for this meeting in accordance with the Waverley Code of Local Government Conduct.

There were no interests declared under this heading.

The Deputy Mayor welcomed Councillor Paul Follows, to his first meeting of the Council and congratulated him on his recent success in the by-election for the Godalming Central and Ockford ward.

She informed the Council that the new business rates pilots had been announced earlier in the day and that Surrey had been selected.  This was good news for Waverley and the County and would provide extra funding for services.

Members were also reassured that extensive works and testing had taken place since the last Council meeting to address the issues experienced with the webcasting system, and that Mr Hollis from Sound Advice was in attendance to monitor the system.

At the Council meeting on the 6 June 2017 the Council agreed that in order to meet its ambitions going forward, the Council would continue to require a principal executive in a leadership role such as a Chief Executive or Executive Director to maintain robust strategic and operational leadership. At its meeting on 18 July 2017, the Council agreed interim arrangements for the role of Head of Paid Service. 

At its meeting on 5 December 2017, Council agreed to commence with the recruitment process for appointing a new Chief Executive (statutory Head of Paid Service) with external advice and support provided by Solace in Business.  The Council also agreed that this role would now include the statutory functions of Returning Officer and Electoral Registration Officer.

Following a rigorous process, under the advice and support of Solace in Business, the report attached recommends the appointment of Tom Horwood, as the Council’s permanent Chief Executive.

Recommendation

It is recommended that Tom Horwood be appointed to the permanent post of Chief Executive, including the statutory roles of Head of Paid Service, Returning Officer and Electoral Registration Officer.

RESOLVED  that Tom Horwood be appointed to the permanent, full-time post of Chief Executive, including the statutory roles of Head of Paid Service, Returning Officer and Electoral Registration Officer.

To receive the outcome of the by-election for the Godalming Central and Ockford ward held on 13 December 2017 and to consider the allocation of seats on principal committees following any changes to the political composition of the Council, to follow.

RESOLVED  that

1.         the political proportions and allocation of seats to the principal committees for the remainder of the current Council year be agreed, as set out in paragraph 3 of the report; and

2.         Cllr Paul Follows be appointed to the Central Area Planning Committee and Joint Planning Committee with effect from 20 December 2017.