Agenda item

            (Ms. J. Minne, Head of Human Resources, attended in connection with this item.)

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“Purpose of report

      To constitute the selection panel for the recruitment of the Director of Finance and Resources.

Relevant Background Information

      The Strategic Policy and Resources Committee gave approval to recruit the post of Director of Finance and Resources on 18th March, 2011.  At that meeting, the selection panel was given delegated authority to offer the post to the recommended candidate, with the outcome being reported back to Council on 4th July, 2011.  Given that elections have taken place since then, there is a need to agree the elected members from Strategic Policy and Resources Committee who will constitute the selection panel for this recruitment exercise.

Key Issues

      All recruitment in local government is regulated by the Local Government Staff Commission’s (LGSC) Code of Procedures on Recruitment and Selection.  As agreed with the LGSC, the constitution of selection panels for director level posts in Belfast City Council should comprise the Chair and Deputy Chair of the controlling committee (or their nominees), another elected member from a political party not represented by the chair or deputy chair,

the Chief Executive and a chief officer.  Given the nature and significance of this post the LGSC has agreed that up to two elected members in addition to the chair and deputy chair may sit

on this selection panel.  Committee are asked to decide whether they wish to nominate one or two additional Members for the Panel.  An observer from the LGSC and a professional assessor may also be in attendance but with no voting rights.  All panel members need to be trained in ensuring equality of opportunity with the recruitment and selection process and the entire panel should be balanced in terms of gender and community background. 

      The post of Director of Finance and Resources was advertised on 5th and 6th May, 2011 with twenty-three applications received by the closing date of 25th May, 2011.

      The advertised schedule of dates for this recruitment campaign are as follows:

(i)      Selection panel short-list meeting on Monday, 6th June, 2011 from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. (to determine which candidates to attend preliminary interviews);

(ii)     Preliminary interviews held by Executive Search Consultants on Wednesday, 8th, Thursday 9th and Friday, 10th June, 2011;

(iii)    Selection panel meet to review the outcome of the preliminary interviews on Tuesday, 14th June, 2011 from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. (to determine which candidates should be invited to assessment centre);

(iv)   Short-listed candidates attend an assessment centre on Tuesday, 21st June, 2011;

(v)    Members’ briefing meeting on Wednesday, 22nd June, 2011 from 9.30 a.m. to 10.30 a.m. (to agree outcome of assessment centre and agree which candidates are invited to interview); and

(vi)   Selection panel interviews to be held on Thursday, 30th June, 2011 from 9 a.m. (times to be confirmed).

Recommendations

      Members are asked to:

1.      agree the elected members’ nominees to comprise the selection panel; and

2.      confirm availability for the schedule of dates at which the selection panel’s attendance is required i.e. Monday, 6th June, 2011; Tuesday, 14th June, 2011, Wednesday 22nd June, 2011 and Thursday, 30th June, 2011”

            After discussion, the Committee agreed that the Chairman, the Deputy Chairman, Councillor Attwood and Councillor Hendron be appointed to the Selection Panel for the recruitment of the post of Director of Finance and Resources.