Agenda item

To receive the report of the Head of Paid Service concerning the designation of a Monitoring Officer.

20.1    Councillor Hilton moved and Councillor Wilson seconded the motion. Councillor Hilton outlined the recommendations set out in the report and paid tribute to the outgoing Monitoring Officer for his services.

20.2    Councillor A. Chambers moved and Councillor O’Donnell seconded the following amendment:

          Council is asked to RESOLVE:

(1)           that Jane Cryer be designated Monitoring Officer for the City Council in accordance with section 5 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 with effect from 1^st October 2024, or her commencement of secondment to the Council (whichever is sooner);

(2)           to enter into an agreement to second the above-mentioned officer from Tewkesbury Borough Council to Gloucester City Council on terms to be agreed between Tewkesbury Borough Council, Gloucester City Council and the officer;

(3)           to delegate authority to the Managing Director to agree the terms of the secondment and to sign the secondment agreement on behalf of Gloucester City Council and to make any necessary consequential amendments to the Council’s Constitution arising from the agreed terms and any re-assignment of the current Monitoring Officer functions;

(4)           that it be noted that Tom Clark will remain the Council’s interim Monitoring Officer until the commencement of Jane Cryer’s secondment to the Council.

(5)           that Councillors be notified of the exact cost of the appointment as opposed to the approximate cost.

20.3    The amendment was not accepted by Councillor Hilton.

20.4    Councillor Patel wondered why the Council had seen a succession of Monitoring Officers and had been unable to retain them.

20.5    Councillor Lewis stated that he presumed that the role had a prescribed wage band. He noted that it was a difficult role and that he was happy to accept the recommendations in the report.

20.6    Councillor A. Chambers explained that his amendment sought to find out the exact appointment cost for the benefit of taxpayers. He stated that Members needed clarity on the figure.

20.7    Councillor S. Chambers thanked the outgoing Monitoring Officer for his service. She noted that she had been impressed with the new Monitoring Officer at the Senior Appointments Committee meeting, that it was a critical role and that it was important that the Council paid the correct amount of money.

20.8    Councillor Pullen commented that the Council had seen a succession of Monitoring Officers in recent years, and that it was a crucial legal post. He stated that during the interview process, the incoming Monitoring Officer had displayed the relevant knowledge, experience and skills, noting that there would be a national payscale for Monitoring Officers.

20.9    Councillor O’Donnell impressed that he did not disagree with the appointment of the new Monitoring Officer but that clarity on the wage was needed.

20.10  Councillor Wilson expressed that in his view, the report had all of the necessary information needed for Members to make the decision.

20.11  Councillor Gravells queried whether Members could be advised of the exact salary once the appointment was finalised.

20.12  The amendment was put to a vote and was carried, therefore becoming the substantive motion.

20.13  The motion as amended was put to a vote and was carried.

20.14   RESOLVED :-

(1)       that Jane Cryer be designated Monitoring Officer for the City Council in accordance with section 5 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 with effect from 1^st October 2024, or her commencement of secondment to the Council (whichever is sooner);

(2)       to enter into an agreement to second the above-mentioned officer from Tewkesbury Borough Council to Gloucester City Council on terms to be agreed between Tewkesbury Borough Council, Gloucester City Council and the officer;

(3)       to delegate authority to the Managing Director to agree the terms of the secondment and to sign the secondment agreement on behalf of Gloucester City Council and to make any necessary consequential amendments to the Council’s Constitution arising from the agreed terms and any re-assignment of the current Monitoring Officer functions;

(4)       that it be noted that Tom Clark will remain the Council’s interim Monitoring Officer until the commencement of Jane Cryer’s secondment to the Council.

(5)       that Councillors be notified of the exact cost of the appointment as opposed to the approximate cost.