Archived decisions

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

Decision Report

1. Executive Summary

1.1 The County Council is required to appoint one of its Officers to carry out the statutory duties of Monitoring Officer pursuant to Section 5 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 and the Local Government Act 2000.

1.2. Within the County Council's Constitution, a number of other corporate and governance functions are also designated to the Monitoring Officer.

1.3 The County Council at its meeting on 2 April 2009 approved the transfer of the functions and responsibilities of Monitoring Officer to Barbara Beardwell to ensure the continued exercise of such functions following the retirement of Jeff Pattison, the former Head of Corporate and Legal Services. Following the Corporate Services Review it was agreed in March 2009 that this post would not be replaced.

2. Proposals

2.1. In the circumstances the County Council agreed at its meeting on 2 April 2009 to appoint Barbara Beardwell as Monitoring Officer and Deputy Head of Legal Services on an interim basis. The Corporate Services Reviews emphasised the importance of succession planning, capacity building and providing the staff with the experience of roles and responsibilities before determining any decisions on the filling of these substantive posts. This way the County Council has the ability to assess the performance of the post holders in situ and to make a judgement as to the filling of the substantive vacancy. The review emphasised the need to develop existing staff capacity and establish how the opportunities around vacancy management and staff development could both reduce the number of senior posts but also provide development opportunities for internal staff. This approach has been hugely successful across the Corporate Services Reviews and the filling of senior management vacancies.

2.2. Over the last six months it has been possible to evaluate the post holder in the role and it is obvious that the interim candidate has clearly demonstrated their ability to undertake the roles and responsibilities of the post, modernise the function and its related activities, shown real ability to work at the political interface and brought enthusiasm and vigour to the role. By establishing the Monitoring Officer in this way it means that these proposals have the benefit of providing a clearer focus than hitherto when the role was part of a more generic management activity. The Chief Executive would recommend that the interim appointment be confirmed on a substantive basis.

2.3. Given the role and nature of this post it is suggested that the postholder be renamed Head of Governance. A further review of the role will be completed when the Constitution is reviewed and presented to the County Council in February 2010.

3. Recommendation

3.1. Recommendation that Barbara Beardwell's appointment as the County Council's Monitoring Officer is confirmed.

3.2. That the functions of Monitoring Officer in the Constitution should be designated to Head of Governance.

3.3 That the Monitoring Officer be authorised to make any necessary changes to the Constitution to give effect to this decision.

CORPORATE OR LEGAL INFORMATION:

Links to the Corporate Strategy