Agenda and minutes

The Mayor to report apologies for absence.

56.1     Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs Steve Cosser, Kevin Deanus, Brian Edmonds, Jan Floyd-Douglass, Mary Foryszewski, Maxine Gale, John Gray, George Hesse, Daniel Hunt, Kika Mirylees and Julia Potts.

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.

57.1     The Council noted that the Chief Executive had declared an interest in item 3 (Appointment to the post of Joint Chief Executive) and was therefore not present at the meeting.

Following a rigorous two-day process which included an external stakeholder panel and, with the advice and support of South East Employers, this report recommends the appointment of Tom Horwood as the Joint Chief Executive of Guildford and Waverley Borough Councils.

Recommendation

1.    The Joint Appointments Committee recommends to Council thatTom Horwood be appointed to the post of Joint Chief Executive of Guildford and Waverley Borough Councils, and to the statutory roles of Head of Paid Service, Returning Officer and Electoral Registration Officer for both Councils.

2.    That the above appointment be confirmed once contract negotiations have finalised.

58.1     The Leader presented the report which set out the recommendation of the Guildford and Waverley Joint Appointments Committee to appoint Tom Horwood as Joint Chief Executive of Guildford and Waverley Borough Councils.  The Joint Appointments Committee had been established by both Councils to carry out the recruitment process and he thanked the Members of that Committee for their constructive input into the process, officers from Waverley and Guildford and South East Employers for their help and support.  The process had been robust and rigorous and was confident that the candidate brought the right level of expertise to the collaboration and commended the recommendations to the Council, which were duly seconded by Councillor Clark.

58.2     Councillor Mulliner spoke on the recommendations, wishing Mr Horwood well for the future on behalf of the Conservative Group, but advising that he would not be voting for the recommendations due to concerns over the underlying issues with the collaboration.  Any modest savings made would be as a result of making a number of senior officers redundant, which would not be risk free.  If contract and agency staff had to be used to maintain services due to an increased workload, this would negate the effect of any savings made. He felt that the project had been rushed, resulting in a lack of proper scrutiny of the risks involved.  He felt that the decision should have waited until the end of the Council year, to properly understand the impact of the recovery from the pandemic on the Council.

58.3     Councillor Seaborne spoke on the recommendations, echoing the points made by Councillor Mulliner and expressing concern over the lack of the assessment of risk of the collaboration.  The presentation of a list of risks was not the same as a proper risk analysis or risk management.  He wished Mr Horwood well in the event that the Council approved the recommendation, however would not be voting for the appointment on the basis of his concerns over the collaboration. 

58.4     Councillor Hyman sought clarification on the wording of the recommendation regarding finalising of the negotiations, and whether it was possible for the Council to agree to the appointment if the terms and conditions had not yet been agreed.

58.5     Councillor Wilson asked Members to remember why the Council was in the financial position it found itself in and why they it was having to take these decisions.

58.6     Councillor Merryweather spoke in support of the recommendations as the first step in the collaboration with Guildford Borough Council, and on the rationale for the collaboration, giving an overview of the financial situation of the Council.  The Council’s costs would increase due to the increased rate of inflation and there was uncertainty over the retention of business rates. 

58.7     Councillor Liz Townsend spoke in support of the appointment, which she felt was reasonable and timely.  The £1.5m savings which Waverley was required to make were considerable and the current financial climate meant that the Council must respond accordingly.

58.8     Councillor Peter  ...  view the full minutes text for item CNL58/21

To agree the appointment of Councillor Stephen Mulliner as Chairman of the Policy Overview and Scrutiny Committee; and Councillor Kevin Deanus as Chairman of the Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

RESOLVED that Councillor Stephen Mulliner be appointed as Chairman of the Policy Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Councillor Kevin Deanus be appointed Chairman of the Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee.