NEWCASTLE-UNDER-LYME BOROUGH COUNCIL

CORPORATE LEADERSHIP TEAM’S

REPORT TO FULL COUNCIL

10TH APRIL 2024

Report Title:	Appointment of Chief Executive

Submitted by:	Service Director for Strategy, People and Performance

Portfolios:	All

Ward(s) affected:	All

Purpose of the Report	Key Decision	Yes ☐	No ☒
To seek the Council’s formal agreement to the appointment of the Chief Executive and extension if required to current interim arrangements.
Recommendation That Council:- Approve the appointment of Gordon Mole as the Council’s Chief Executive (including the statutory roles of Head of Paid service, Returning Officer and Electoral Registration Officer) such appointment to commence from a date to be agreed between Mr Mole and the leader of the Council. That Mr Mole be appointed on a salary of £116, 530.65 per annum (plus expenses for additional election related duties). That should it be required, for the current interim arrangements to be extended for up to a month should a start date for Mr Mole fall outwith the agreed acting up period for Mr McEneny (originally approved for up to 3 months).
Reasons Under section 4 of the Local Government and Housing Act 189; the Council has a statutory duty to appoint a Head of Paid Service. In line with the constitution; the appointment of the Council’s Chief Executive is a matter for decision by full Council

Background

The Council has carried out an extensive recruitment campaign to recruit its new Chief Executive. There were 28 applicants who, through a thorough and rigorous selection process, were whittled down to a shortlist of candidates who were interviewed by an Interview Panel of Elected Members representative of the Employment Committee on 18th March 2024.

The Interview Panel, chaired by the leader of the panel and acting as a sub-committee of the Employment Committee reached the unanimous decision to recommend to Full Council that Gordon Mole be appointed as the new Chief Executive of the Council.

Full Council is now asked to formally agree to the appointment of Mr Mole as Chief Executive.

Issues

In Full Council on 14th February 2024, it was agreed that Simon McEneny would act as interim Chief Executive for a period of 3 months from 1st April or until the new Chief Executive commenced in post, whichever came sooner. Should a start date for Mr Mole be agreed that is later than 1st July, Full Council are asked to approve the extension of Mr McEneny’s acting up arrangement for up to 1 month to allow appropriate cover is in place.

Recommendation

That Council:-

Approve the appointment of Gordon Mole as the Council’s Chief Executive (including the statutory roles of Head of Paid service, Returning Officer and Electoral Registration Officer) such appointment to commence from a date to be agreed between Mr Mole and the leader of the Council.

That Mr Mole be appointed on a salary of £116, 530.65 per annum (plus expenses for additional election related duties).

That should it be required, for the current interim arrangements to be extended for up to a month should a start date for Mr Mole fall outwith the agreed acting up period for Mr McEneny (originally approved for up to 3 months).

Reasons

Under section 4 of the Local Government and Housing Act 189; the Council has a statutory duty to appoint a Head of Paid Service.

Options Considered

A full and robust selection process was undertaken with Gordon Mole emerging as the preferred candidate.

Legal and Statutory Implications

Under section 4 of the Local Government and Housing Act 189; the Council has a statutory duty to appoint a Head of Paid Service.

Equality Impact Assessment

The selection process undertaken was fair and equitable

Financial and Resource Implications

No additional costs

Major Risks & Mitigation

No risks identified

UN Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG)

Key Decision Information

n/a

Earlier Cabinet/Committee Resolutions

Interim Appointment of Head of Paid Service (Chief Executive) February 2024

List of Appendices

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Background Papers

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