Agenda item

To consider the report of the Head of Paid Service seeking approval for the designation of a Monitoring Officer for the council.

26.1    Councillor Cook moved and Councillor Norman seconded that Council was being asked to resolve that it be noted that the current shared Monitoring Officer arrangements with Stroud District Council was coming to an end, and that the Managing Director be authorised to appoint a locum Monitoring Officer to succeed Stephen Taylor for a period not exceeding twelve months. Councillor Cook also noted that Council was being asked to resolve that Stephen Taylor’s designation as Monitoring Officer to the Council continue until such time as a successor Monitoring Officer was appointed, and it be noted that the Managing Director took an urgent decision on 18^th August 2022 to extend Stephen Taylor’s designation until 30^th September 2022.

26.2    Councillor Hilton agreed that the role of the Monitoring Officer was important and noted that he was not criticising their advice, however he expressed concerns that the Monitoring Officer role was usually a Member appointment made through the Senior Appointments Committee. He asked that the Managing Director report to the Senior Appointments Committee on progress in recruiting a new Monitoring Officer, as he felt that elected Members should have sight of potential candidates and a role in interviewing them. Councillor Hilton noted that he was not opposed to recruiting a locum Monitoring Officer in the short-term but felt that Members ought to be properly consulted going forward.

26.3    Councillor Cook provided assurances that the Senior Appointments Committee would be properly consulted and that he would ensure that the Committee took an appropriate role in the appointment of future Monitoring Officers.

          RESOLVED that: -

(1)  It be noted that the current shared Monitoring Officer arrangements with Stroud District Council are coming to an end; 

(2)  The Managing Director be authorised to appoint a locum Monitoring Officer to succeed Stephen Taylor, for a period not exceeding twelve months, and to bring a report to this Council at its next meeting concerning that interim appointment; 

(3)  Stephen Taylor’s designation as Monitoring Officer to this Council continue until such time as a successor Monitoring Officer is appointed; and 

(4)  It be noted that the Managing Director took an urgent decision on 18^th August 2022 to extend Stephen Taylor’s designation as Monitoring Officer for the City Council until 30th September 2022.