Agenda and minutes

73.1     The Deputy Mayor, Cllr Penny Rivers, welcomed Members to the Extraordinary meeting of Council and advised that she would be chairing the meeting in the absence of the Mayor, who had given his apologies.

73.2     The Deputy Mayor congratulated Waverley residents who had been awarded honours in the King’s 2023 New Year’s Honours List:

·         Carolyn Stidston, Founder of CS Nursery Schools Ltd, awarded an OBE for services to Education; and

·         Mike Smyth, Chair of Energy4All, awarded an MBE for services to the environment.

The Mayor to report apologies for absence.

74.1     Apologies for absence had been received from the Mayor, Cllr John Ward, and Cllrs Sally Dickson, Brian Edmonds, Patricia Ellis, David Else, Jenny Else, Jan Floyd-Douglass, Mary Foryszewski, Joan Heagin, Val Henry, Chris Howard, Dan Hunt, Anna James, Michaela Martin, Stephen Mulliner, Nick Palmer, Julia Potts, Anne-Marie Rosoman, Trevor Sadler, Michaela Wicks, and George Wilson.

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.

75.1     There were no interests declared under this heading.

Recommendation

To consider the Joint Appointments Committee’s recommendation that Susan Sale, currently Head of Law and Governance at Oxford City Council, be appointed to the role of Joint Executive Head of Legal and Democratic Services (Monitoring Officer).

76.1     The Council received a report on the proposed appointment of a Joint Executive Head of Legal and Democratic Services, noting that the role included the statutory post of Monitoring Officer.

76.2     The Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) Regulations 2001 provided that matters relating to the appointment of a Monitoring Officer were reserved to the Full Council. Therefore, following the candidate selection process in respect of this appointment, the Joint Appointments Committee at its meeting on 5 December 2022 had recommended the appointment of Susan Sale, currently Head of Law and Governance and Oxford City Council, and Monitoring Officer at West Oxfordshire District Council for confirmation at the Full Council meetings of Guildford and Waverley Borough Councils.

76.3     Members noted that the Full Council may only make or approve the appointment where no well-founded objection had been made by the Leader on behalf of the Executive in accordance with the provisions of Part II of Schedule 1 of the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) Regulations 2001. The report had indicated that the Leaders of both councils had confirmed that no such objections had been received. Members noted also that Guildford’s Full Council had met on Tuesday 3 January 2023 and resolved that Susan Sale be appointed to the role of Joint Executive Head of Legal and Democratic Services (Monitoring Officer).

76.4     Cllr Jerry Hyman referred to the agenda report and queried what would be the legal and contractual risks referred to in paragraph 10.2, in the event that the appointment was not confirmed by Council. The Leader advised that the councils would have to begin the recruitment process again, with consequential costs and risk.

76.5     The Leader took the opportunity to thank Stephen Rix, for his work and support whilst in post as Interim Executive Head of Legal and Democratic Services and Monitoring Officer.

76.6     On the recommendation of the Deputy Mayor, seconded by the Leader, the Council:

RESOLVED that Susan Sale, currently Head of Law and Governance at Oxford City Council, and Monitoring Officer at West Oxfordshire District Council, be appointed to the role of Joint Executive Head of Legal and Democratic Services (Monitoring Officer).

Reason:

To appoint a permanent Joint Executive Head of Legal and Democratic Services, including the duties of the Monitoring Officer for Guildford and Waverley Borough Councils.