Issue - meetings

The Council considered a report which dealt with management arrangements resulting from (i) the retirement of Ray Morgan and Douglas Spinks as Chief Executive and Deputy Chief Executive respectively on 31 March 2021 and (ii) the retirement of Peter Bryant as Director of Legal and Democratic Services on 30 June 2021.

The matters included the appointment of a Deputy Electoral Registration Officer, Data Protection Officer and Monitoring Officer.

Councillor Chrystie referred to recommendation (ii) and the proposal to appoint the Director of Legal and Democratic Services designate as the Council’s Monitoring Officer.  Councillor Chrystie stated that the report prepared by the independent investigator, Dr Gifty Edila, had concluded that the two roles should not be held by the same individual.

Peter Bryant, Director of Legal and Democratic Services, responded to the point raised, and advised that he did not believe that the report had included reference to the positions as set out by Councillor Chrystie.  Mr Bryant advised the Council that, to the best of his knowledge, the vast majority of Heads of Legal also held the position of Monitoring Officer at their Authority.  In agreement with the Council, Mr Bryant undertook to confirm the position on the following day, once he had had an opportunity to revisit the report by Dr Edila.

RESOLVED

That  (i)    the Director of Legal and Democratic Services be appointed as Deputy Electoral Registration Officer (Peter Bryant until 30 June 2021, Joanne McIntosh from 1 July 2021);

          (ii)   Joanne McIntosh (Director of Legal and Democratic Services designate) be appointed as the Council’s Monitoring Officer with effect from 1 July 2021 subject to clarification of the statement by Councillor Chrystie that the report by the Independent Investigator had concluded that the Head of Legal should not be appointed as the Council’s Monitoring Officer; and

          (iii)  Joanne McIntosh (Director of Legal and Democratic Services designate) be appointed as the Council’s Data Protection Officer with effect from 1 July 2021.

(NOTE: Mr Bryant subsequently confirmed that the report prepared by Dr Edila did not contain any reference to a conflict of interest arising from Director of Legal and Democratic Services being appointed as the Council’s Monitoring Officer.  A copy of the report by Dr Edila and extracts from the relevant sections of the report were sent to all Members of the Council.  Accordingly, recommendation (ii), that Joanne McIntosh (Director of Legal and Democratic Services designate) be appointed as the Council’s Monitoring Officer with effect from 1 July 2021, was confirmed.)