Issue - meetings

1)  That the post of Director of Mid Kent Services to be employed by Maidstone Borough Council be confirmed;

2)  That the Chief Executive be authorised to commence the process of recruitment and appointment; and

3)  That delegated authority be given to the Chief Executive to sign the collaboration agreement between the three Councils on behalf of Maidstone Borough Council and that this must be signed by all parties before the recruitment process commences.

The Committee considered the report of the Chief Executive which sought authority to commence the process of recruitment and appointment to the post of Director of Mid Kent Services (MKS).

Members noted that the current Director of MKS had been seconded from his full time role at Tunbridge Wells Borough Council and his secondment ends 31^st July 2016.

At its meeting on 17 December 2015 the MKS Board agreed that the post should be funded equally by all three Councils and that Maidstone Borough Council would be the employer, with the Chief Executive being the Line Manager.

A draft collaboration agreement had been prepared for the Councils to sign which sets out how they would cooperate to manage the post. 

In response to questions from Members, it was noted that:-

·  A temporary solution would be put in place should it not be possible to recruit by the time the current Director of Mid Kent Services’ secondment ends

·  The recruitment process would be undertaken by Members of this Council’s Employment Committee

·  A role in the interview process would be investigated for the other two Councils

·  The Collaboration Agreement would be signed by all three Authorities before the recruitment process commences

RESOLVED: 

1)  That the post of Director of Mid Kent Services to be employed by Maidstone Borough Council be confirmed;

2)  That the Chief Executive be authorised to commence the process of recruitment and appointment; and

3)  That delegated authority be given to the Chief Executive to sign the collaboration agreement between the three Councils on behalf of Maidstone Borough Council and that this must be signed by all parties before the recruitment process commences.

Voting:  For:  14 Against:  0  Abstentions:  1