Contact: Kelvin Ridout - Ext 7356 e-mail: [email protected]

1 Introduction

1.1 At its meeting on 7 December 2005, the Authority gave approval to the Clerk, in consultation with the Chairman of the Standards Committee, to approach 3 Members of that Committee to form an Interview Panel. The Panel was invited to see a short-list of candidates who had, following advertisements in the local press, applied to serve as Independent Members on the Standards Committee.

1.2 The Standards Committee on 9 December 2005 considered a report by the Clerk about the role of Independent Members and have recommended to the Authority to increase the current number of such Members from two to three.

2 Interview Panel for Independent Members

2.1 An Interview Panel comprising Councillors M.J. Woodhall (Chairman), E.F. Gale, MBE and P. Galton met on 9 December 2005. They interviewed each of the short-listed candidates other than the two existing Independent Members Miss S. Roberts and Mrs. W. Allen, who were both unable to attend on
9 December 2005. As a result, the Interview Panel agreed to meet again on
17 January 2006 to see both of them on this date.

2.2 After detailed consideration on 17 January 2006, the Panel unanimously recommended the re-appointment of Miss S. Roberts and Mrs. W. Allen as Independent Members and the appointment of Mr. M.C. James as a third new Independent Member. In relation to the new appointment, Members will wish to know that Mr. James has had 31 years experience with IBM in a variety of roles including UK Compensation and Benefits Manager, Human Resources Manager at Hursley and European Human Resources Centre Manager. All 3 have been invited to this Authority meeting.

2.3 The Panel were impressed with the quality of the other candidates and recommend that three of them be invited as reserves in the event of the above recommended appointees standing down.

RECOMMENDATION:

That Mrs Wendy Allen, Martin James and Miss Sandra Roberts be appointed as the three Independent Members to serve on the Authority's Standards Committee for a four year period expiring in February 2010; and that Messrs Ellis, Hamer and Humble

be invited as reserves.

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - background papers

The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

NB the list excludes:

1 Published works.

2 Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.

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