Archived decisions

Contact: Councillor Ken Thornber CBE email: [email protected]

Introduction

1 Members will know that the Chief Executive is retiring on 17 December 2007 and accordingly, a selection procedure was put in place in late May 2007.

2 The Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) Regulations 2001 govern the arrangements for the appointment of the Head of the County Council's Paid Service. In pursuance of those Regulations the County Council's Standing Order 41.10 required the Member Interview Panel to comprise the Leader of the Council, the Deputy Leader, a member nominated by the Leader, the Chairman of the Policy and Resources Select Committee and proportionate representation from the minority groups (Councillors Thornber, Woodhall, Davidovitz, Cartwright, Collett, Dash and Kelly were the members in question). Standing Orders also require the Executive not to have any objection to the recommendation of the Panel. The Executive has no objection and accordingly the Panel submit the following recommendation. In accordance with Standing Order 41.4 the Council itself is required to approve the appointment.

RECOMMENDATION:

That approval be given to the appointment of Andrew Smith, presently the County Council's Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services, as Chief Executive of the County Council.

Background

3 Gatenby Sanderson consultants, who specialise in head-hunting and recruitment at a senior level, were commissioned to carry out early interviews along with a Technical Assessor (an ex-County Council Chief Executive) and submit the names of candidates that they recommended for short listing. A very rigorous process always accompanies a selection programme of this sort and a final shortlist of six was put forward to the Leader.

4 At the request of the Members Appointment Panel who met throughout the process to review names and progress being made, the Leader saw six candidates.

5 As a result of the meeting with the Leader, he proposed that one candidate would not be progressed and this was agreed by members of the Member Appointment Panel.

6 The final shortlist of five candidates were then interviewed by the Member Appointment Panel. (Candidates included a County Chief Executive, a Unitary Authority Chief Executive, a London Borough Chief Executive, a senior civil servant who previously had been Chief Executive of a District Council; and one internal candidate.)

7 All candidates were worthy contenders based on their experience and personal qualities. Having taken all the issues into account and balancing the strengths and weakness of all the candidates, the Member Appointment Panel unanimously concluded that Andrew Smith should be recommended for appointment. The Panel was particularly mindful of his impressive track record with the County Council over many years, his contribution as a senior member of the Corporate Management Team to deliver the County Council's four star CPA rating, his recognition at national level in enhancing the quality of the built environment in Hampshire and further afield, and his effective demonstration of the qualities and attributes which Members considered the County Council's Chief Executive should have.