Agenda and minutes

To elect a Chair for the duration of the meeting.

RESOLVED – That Councillor F Venner be elected as Chair.*

To consider any appeals in accordance with Procedure Rule 15.2 of the Access to Information Procedure Rules (in the event of an Appeal the press and public will be excluded)

(*In accordance with Procedure Rule 15.2, written notice of an appeal must be received by the Head of Governance Services at least 24 hours before the meeting)

There were no appeals against refusal of inspection of documents received.

RESOLVED – That Appendix 2 to the report entitled ‘Appointment of Deputy Director in Public Health’ in Minute No. 7 be designated as exempt from publication under the provisions of Access to Information Procedure Rule 10.4(1) and (2) and on the grounds that, in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information by reason of the need to maintain the competitive nature of the interview process and to retain information submitted by individual applicants in confidence, as disclosure could undermine the process, future appointment processes, or the outcome on this occasion to the detriment of the Council’s and public interest.

To disclose or draw attention to any interests in accordance with Leeds City Council’s ‘Councillor Code of Conduct’.

There were no declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests made at the meeting.

To receive any apologies for absence from the meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from: Councillor S Arif and Dr E Friedman for the Shortlisting part of the of the Committee meeting (2 March 2022) – both of whom were in attendance for the Interview session (28 March 2022).

To receive a report of the City Solicitor which provides an overview of the governance arrangements and format of this specific Employment Committee, established to recruit to the position of Deputy Director Public Health.

(Report attached)

The City Solicitor submitted a report which provided Members with an overview of the governance arrangements and format for this specific Employment Committee which had responsibility for recruitment to the position of Deputy Director Public Health.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the governance arrangements and format relating to the Employment Committee, as detailed in the submitted report, be noted

(b)  That the Council’s requirements regarding the consideration and disclosure of confidential and ‘exempt’ information, be noted

(c)  That it be noted that the interview session has been scheduled for Monday, 28^th March 2022.

To receive a report of the Chief Officer Human Resources which presents a proposal to the Employment Committee to appoint to the position of Deputy Director Public Health within the Public Health Directorate.

(Report attached)

(Please note that Appendix 2 to this report is designated as being exempt from publication under the provisions of Access to Information Procedure Rule 10.4(1) and (2))

The Head of HR, Adults and Health submitted a report on behalf of the Chief Officer (HR) which outlined the process for the recruitment to the position of Deputy Director Public Health.

The Director of Public Health, the Head of HR, Jenny Cooke – Programme Director, Population Health, NHS, Corinne Harvey – Office for Health Improvement and Disparities and Gary Evans (Gatenby Sanderson HR Consultants) were in attendance at the meeting in an advisory capacity.

Having considered the submitted report and appendices, the Committee undertook the formal recruitment process (shortlisting)

RESOLVED - That 4 candidates be progressed to the interview stage of the assessment process.

At this point, the meeting was adjourned

The meeting was reconvened on Monday, 28th March 2022

Councillors:  S Arif, N Harrington, D Jenkins and F Venner were in attendance

Also in attendance in an advisory capacity: Jenny Cooke – Programme Director, Population Health, NHS; Corinne Harvey – Office for Health Improvement and Disparities; and Dr Ellis Friedman.

Further to Minute No. 1 (above), the Committee agreed that Councillor S Arif undertake the role of chair for the interview panel process.*

In addition to the above, the Director of Public Health, the Head of HR and representative from Gatenby Sanderson HR Consultants were in attendance at the meeting in an advisory capacity.

Having considered all relevant information in respect of the shortlisted candidates, the Committee undertook the formal interview process for the position of Deputy Director Public Health, and it was

RESOLVED – That following the conclusion of the formal interview process and having considered all relevant information put before the Committee, it be agreed that Tim Fielding be offered the position of Deputy Director Public Health, subject to the conclusion of the associated notification processes, as set out within the Officer Employment Procedure Rules.

(* As referenced in Minute Nos. 1 and 7, the Committee agreed that Cllr Venner chair the initial stage of the meeting (shortlisting) on 2nd March 2022 and that Cllr Arif chair the second stage of the meeting (interviews) on 28th March 2022)