Council - Thursday 26 June 2025, 4:00pm - Cotswold District Council Webcasting

Council
Thursday, 26th June 2025 at 4:00pm 

Agenda

Slides

Transcript

Map

Resources

Forums

Speakers

Votes

 
Share this agenda point
  1. Councillor Mark Harris
Share this agenda point
  1. Andrew Brown, Officer
  2. Councillor Mark Harris
  3. Councillor Mike Evemy
  4. Councillor Mark Harris
Share this agenda point
Share this agenda point
  1. Councillor Juliet Layton
  2. Councillor Mark Harris
  3. Councillor Ray Brassington
  4. Councillor Mark Harris
  5. 03 To appoint Liberal Democrat representative to Planning Committee
    Status: In progress
  6. 03 To appoint Liberal Democrat representative to Planning Committee
    Status: Ended
Share this agenda point
  1. Councillor Mike Evemy
  2. Councillor Mark Harris
  3. Councillor Tom Stowe
  4. Councillor Mark Harris
  5. Angela Claridge
  6. Councillor Mark Harris
  7. Councillor David Fowles
  8. Councillor Mark Harris
  9. Councillor David Fowles
  10. Councillor Mike Evemy
  11. Councillor David Fowles
  12. Councillor Mark Harris
  13. Councillor David Fowles
  14. Councillor Mark Harris
  15. Councillor Nikki Ind
  16. Councillor Mark Harris
  17. Councillor Ray Brassington
  18. Councillor Mike Evemy
  19. Councillor Mark Harris
  20. Councillor Mike Evemy
  21. Councillor Mark Harris
  22. Councillor Mike Evemy
  23. Councillor Mark Harris
  24. 04. To approve recommendations 1-5
    Status: In progress
  25. 04. To approve recommendations 1-5
    Status: Ended
  26. Councillor David Fowles
  27. Councillor Mark Harris
  28. Webcast Finished

Councillor Mark Harris - 0:00:14
Welcome, everybody, and welcome to this Cotswold District Council meeting.

1 Apologies

My name is Councillor Mark Harris and I'm the chair of this committee.
I don't think we have members of any of the public, but members of office and members
of public in attendance.
Please, I remind you that this meeting is being live streamed and recorded on the Council's website.
And please can members and officers turn off their microphones once they've finished speaking and turn them on before they do speak.
Also, can I ask you to turn off your mobile phones so that they don't interrupt proceedings.
If you'd like to leave the meeting part way through, please keep in mind that proceedings are still taking place and do so quietly.
We're not expecting a fire alarm but if there is one if it does sound please exit the building
the way you came in.
Okay let's dive into the meeting let's start off with apologies please.
Thank you chair apologies have been received from councillors Gina Bloomfield, Nick Bridges
and Andrew McLean.
Andrew Brown, Officer - 0:01:14
Councillor Mark Harris - 0:01:19
I also have John Waring and Nigel Robbins as well if we could add those to the equation.
Thank you.
Sorry, Mike.
Go for it.
Councillor Tony Dale.
Councillor Mike Evemy - 0:01:26
Councillor Mark Harris - 0:01:27
And of course, Councillor Tony Dale.
Thank you, Mike.
Okay.
We're happy with that.
Do we need to vote on that?
We do, don't we?
Do we vote on that?
No, sorry.
Not here.

2 Declarations of Interest

Declarations of interest.
Do we have any declarations of interest?
No?
Thank you very much.
Okay.

3 Appointment to vacant seat on the Planning and Licensing Committee

The first item is to appoint to a vacant seat on the Planning and Licensing Committee.
So we need to appoint a member on the vacant Liberal Democrat seat on the Planning and
Licence Committee, following the resignation by me from the committee, as we can't have
the chair and vice -chair of council on the same committee.
And Councillor Brassen in this case takes precedence for that.
So we have a nominee, and that is Councillor Tristan Wilkinson.
Do we have somebody who's proposing him?
I think we do.
Juliet, do you want to say a couple of words?
Councillor Juliet Layton - 0:02:20
Yes, thank you very much. I'm really pleased that Tristan has stepped up to take your place.
Mark, although you've been a very valuable member on the planning committee, I absolutely
acknowledge that. I think Tristan will be great. He's got architectural knowledge, he's
got knowledge about flooding, detail about procedures and all sorts of things. And most
importantly, I've arranged for him this very afternoon to get one -to -one training. However,
I would also like to say to the Conservative group, because I heard when I popped down
to get the one to do on training, that some of your members would like some more training
because you're having some people who have not been trained that might want to be a sub.
So you might get an invitation, but it will be for a quick training session alongside
Tristan.
So if you need to take that up, just be aware that that might come to you.
Okay, but I think Tristan will enjoy it actually because it is a fantastic committee to be
on.
Very interesting.
Thank you.
Councillor Mark Harris - 0:03:21
It is indeed and brilliantly shared both presently and partially.
Do we have somebody to second that nomination?
Thank you, Ray.
Councillor Ray Brassington - 0:03:32
Yes, I would just like to second Councillor Tristan Wilkinson.
I'm sure he's the best candidate available.
Okay.
Councillor Mark Harris - 0:03:41
Okay, well unless we have any other comments on that, I think we're good.
We'll go to the vote.
Thank you very much.
I should let you know the officers have a sweepstake on this meeting and how long it
will take.
Okay, well we're all done now and I've got 24 for.
No against, no abstentions, so that's carried.
So thank you very much. Welcome Tristan to the planning committee. I'm sure you'll love it as much as I did.
And I did.
Okay, the next item is the appointment of an interim chief executive officer.
The purpose of this is to approve the recommendation of the performance and appointments committee

4 Appointment of an Interim Chief Executive Officer

that an interim officer be appointed as chief executive officer and head of page service with effect from the 1st of July.
and that I mean a lot of heavy lifting has been done on this by Councillor Evmee
and Tom Stowe and the Appointments Committee, Nikki Ind and Juliet as well.
Councillor Mike Evemy - 0:04:50
But I'll hand over to Mike to present this item. Thank you chair and I'd like
to start by thanking all my colleagues on the council for being here on a
Thursday afternoon in this for this extraordinary meeting and it's great
that so many of you have made it along here this afternoon.
This is without doubt a significant moment
for Cotswold District Council,
for residents and businesses,
for you as members and your communities,
for the officers working here
on behalf of those communities
and for our partners across the county
and the wider region.
Last week, Rob Weaver announced his intention
to step down as the council's chief executive officer.
His last working day will be Monday 30th of June.
I'd like to begin by placing on record my thanks to Rob for his four and a half years at the head of this organisation.
He's played an important part in shaping the direction of this council and I appreciate his commitment and his leadership.
He had a key role in the transition of several services back into the council and worked collaboratively and successfully with partners in Gloucestershire,
most recently to lay the groundwork for local government reorganisation in the county.
He has also led initiatives to streamline council operations and improve service delivery
for our residents.
With key objectives set by this administration achieved and the transition of services from
Publica back to the council due to be largely complete next week on the 1st of July, Rob
herself said that he felt that now was the time to take up fresh challenges and spend
more time with his young family.
I'm sure you will join me in wishing him every success for the future.
This means that in recent weeks, certainly in the last couple of weeks, we've been very focused on finding a suitable successor for ROC.
As I said, this is a really important time for the Council and indeed for all of our neighbouring councils across Gloucestershire.
That means that we need a chief executive who can work with partners in each of these authorities, successfully navigate the most fundamental change to local government that this region has seen in a generation.
Changes that will see districts and county councils abolished and one or more
unitary authorities created in our county. As that process unfolds this
council needs a chief executive who can work with us as members to ensure the
interests of our residents are represented and heard to inform the
collective proposals for reorganisation in Gloucestershire that will be
submitted to the government later this year. And it needs a chief executive who
can guide and direct our dedicated and talented council staff through the
change and uncertainty that reorganisation brings.
But reorganisation is just one of the challenges facing us.
We also need to continue serving residents as a
district council in the next few years, operating in an
increasingly challenging financial environment,
efficiently collecting our waste and recycling, marrying
the need for new housing with sustainable infrastructure
first development, supporting residents through an ongoing
cost of living crisis, responding to the climate
emergency and ensuring that our communities thrive in a prosperous local economy.
These are the priorities that we must deliver on now.
Doing this effectively will require innovation, transformation and a strategic vision.
We mustn't take our eyes off the ball when it comes to our existing duties and responsibilities
as a District Council.
It's with that context in mind that I'm pleased to recommend to members that we approve the
appointment of Jane Portman as Interim Chief Executive Officer, Returning Officer and Electoral
registration officer. I do so on behalf of the cross -party selection panel which
met on Monday and comprised members of the council's performance and
appointments committee who were all very impressed by Jane with all aspects of
her interview. She has a track record which demonstrates she's extremely well
equipped to steward the council at this critical time. She started her career as
a teacher and has since amassed almost 40 years of public service experience.
Most recently, she was Chief Executive Officer at South Somerset District Council, where
she worked with fellow Chancellor Chief Executives across Somerset on a programme of local government
reorganisation resulting in the new unitary council for Somerset.
Prior to that, she served as Managing Director and Head of Paid Service at Bournemouth Council
before becoming Interim Head of Paid Service at Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole Shadow
Authority, leading it through to vesting day as those councils combined to create one of
two new unitary authorities in Dorset. Jane has also worked at North Uptonshire County
Council, Bristol City Council, Borough of Poole Council, Oxfordshire County Council
and Cherwell District Council. In addition, she's a senior officer peer for the Local
Government Association leading LGA corporate peer challenges. She's also a member of the
Society of Local Authority Chief Executives Associate and for the same body, a recommended
critical friend for councils embarking on local government reorganisation. I hope you'll
agree with me that her knowledge and experience will be invaluable as we work collaboratively
to capitalise on the opportunities and overcome the unique and complex challenges that the
local government reorganisation presents to us in Gloucestershire. All while tackling
the other BRIC priorities we face as a district council, some of which I set out earlier.
Jane will start on the first of July next week on initial six -month term, subject to
us as a council agreeing this afternoon, with the option to extend that term for a further
three months.
She was the unanimous choice of the selection panel, and I hope she will be unanimously
approved by this council this afternoon.
I'm confident that she will bring fresh energy and abundance of insights and clear leadership,
and I look forward to working closely with her as we continue to build a vibrant, inclusive,
and resilient districts with communities that are well positioned to thrive within a new
model of local government. Thank you.
Councillor Mark Harris - 0:10:39
Thank you very much, Mike. Tom, would you like to say the word now?
Councillor Tom Stowe - 0:10:46
Thank you, Chair. I am pleased to second this item. I value the opportunity to be involved
in the appointment process along with other colleagues on the Performance and Appointments
Before I go any further, I just wanted to say a special thanks to Cheryl Sloan for all
of her hard work.
She really has been instrumental in driving this process.
It's certainly been an interesting few weeks where the Council has found itself in somewhat
of a time of flux with a change of leader, change in cabinet and now a change in CEO.
Transitions of leadership are pivotal moments for any organisation.
For me, in my small part in this process, my focus has not just been about change, but
most importantly opportunity.
An opportunity to reflect on what challenges this council is likely to face in the coming
years and an opportunity to reset the organisation's priorities and innovate to meet those challenges.
A fresh pair of eyes with new ideas can be fundamental in that process.
During the interviews on Monday, it was clear that Jane brings a wealth of experience and
a proven track record of local government leadership, having successfully led organisations
through a variety of circumstances.
What struck me was that she offers some unique skill sets and experience which seem to really
resonate with the particular circumstances that Cotswold District Council is in and the
challenges it is likely to be facing over the coming years.
In particular, her previous experience of leading transformation and local government
reform at two previous councils really stood out.
From the perspective of what us as the opposition group look for in a CEO, I got the impression
that Jane is not going to be backward in coming forwards, and is going to take a straightforward
approach to challenging the decisions of this administration.
I am sure in a constructive way.
As an opposition group we feel this is maybe something which has been lacking
in some areas in recent years so we look forward to seeing how this dynamic
develops. To sum up I fully support the appointment of Jane to the role of CEO
it gives us an opportunity to draw the line and move forward with clarity and
subject to this motion passing I very much look forward to working with her.
Thank you. Thank you very much Councillor Stowe. So we've heard the leaders looking
Councillor Mark Harris - 0:13:11
forward to the future and the Leader of Opposition is looking forward to the opportunities in
the future and we'll just open it up to anybody who would like to question.
I'm so sorry, Angela.
Angela Claridge - 0:13:21
If I can just come in very quickly, members will know that in the report if for any reason
Jane isn't able to start on the 1st of July, then David Stanley, who is currently our Deputy
Chief Exec, will act up for what is probably just a matter of a few short days.
So David has left the chamber whilst we discuss that item.
Councillor Mark Harris - 0:13:40
Council Fowles, I have to speak.
Councillor David Fowles - 0:13:46
It's great that we've been able to get someone of such high
caliber at such short notice and all credit to HR.
And it will be worth mentioning, I think, in the report,
the work that was done by the performance and appointments
committee, which was, I substituted on.
and it was a very robust process chaired brilliantly by Mike.
So it was good.
Just want to clarify, if I may, what Mike said.
Mike said she's been appointed for six months.
Yet item one under the recommendation says
for a period of up to nine months.
Shouldn't that change?
So if it's six months, no?
Because the whole, the thrust of the document suggests
nine months.
Are you happy with that wording?
Are you?
My reading is it's for six months up to nine months.
Councillor Mark Harris - 0:14:31
Unless I'm wrong, Councillor.
Councillor David Fowles - 0:14:33
Can I answer that?
Thank you.
Councillor Mike Evemy - 0:14:36
So, yeah, it's for the initial six month period.
Obviously, we will be looking to appoint a permanent chief executive.
Often chief executives are on notice periods.
So we can't, yeah, if we find the right candidate and they can't start within the six month period,
what the up to nine months allows is for Jane to continue in post until that person can start.
So what I'm asking the council, the up to nine months is, she could be here for nine months,
the initial offer is for six months and then it would be potentially extended up to nine months
without the need to come back to council and have another decision.
That's why we're considering this afternoon.
Councillor David Fowles - 0:15:15
Councillor Mark Harris - 0:15:16
It's such an important appointment. Why don't we say that in the recommendation?
I think it does say that it's for after nine months. If it's six months I'm just you know I'm just
Councillor David Fowles - 0:15:28
wanted the clarity that's all. If you could turn your microphone off it'd be
Councillor Mark Harris - 0:15:35
Councillor Nikki Ind - 0:15:41
grateful. Thank you. Councillor Inge. Thank you chair. Not wishing to go over what my
colleagues have said I was delighted to be asked to be part of the performance and
appointments committee and to be involved in this process.
So briefly for me as a district council,
it's very clear that we're facing clear financial
pressures ahead of us, as well as the fact we're about
to embark on this huge change with local
government reorganization.
Jane comes to the district council with invaluable and
extensive experience of transition, change,
and budgetary pressure.
And I'm supporting her appointment,
as I believe that she has the qualities and experience
to guide us as councillors and a district council through what I am sure
are going to be challenging times ahead. Thank you. Thank you councillor
Councillor Mark Harris - 0:16:27
Inge. Well look unless we've got any other comments I think... Oh councillor
Brasington go for it, my apologies. Right thank you. I just wanted to check that
Councillor Ray Brassington - 0:16:37
we're keeping staff informed of all that's going on. There's a lot of changes
going on we must feel a bit uncertain with everything so are we keeping them
Don Brest.
Thank you.
Thank you, Ray, for the question.
Councillor Mike Evemy - 0:16:47
And, yeah, it's been very much part of this process, and I've been working to pay tribute
both to Cheryl, who Tom mentioned, but also to Matt Abber, our head of comms, who's worked
incredibly closely with me and with Cheryl and with our other statutory officers to assist
in putting out communications to staff.
So we put out communications to staff straight after the performance and appointments committee
when the they agreed to to Rob's departure and then see we've been putting out communications
About Jane's appointment this afternoon. There'll be more communication. So
And it's certainly our intent and we have a session on the 7th of July
For staff that Jane and I will be here
She will be introducing herself to the staff at that point.
We are very mindful that a change of Chief Executive can be unsettling for members of
staff and we have done everything we can to keep them updated with the decisions that
we are taking and obviously we are about to take.
Councillor Mark Harris - 0:18:01
Thank you, Councillor Ebony.
OK, right.
I am going to go back over the recommendations.
It's longish, but I'm sorry go for it.
Councillor Mike Evemy - 0:18:09
Before you do that, could I just clarify something on the
recommendations, if that's okay?
Councillor Mike Evemy - 0:18:13
Councillor Mark Harris - 0:18:13
So clearly, you might have been about to do this.
Apologies if that's what you were about to do.
But clearly in recommendation one, we changed the words to
the person named in Annex A and put Jane's name in, in terms of
the resolution, Jane Portman.
Then I think what we, in terms of the staff date, looking at
Cheryl as I came in the room, Cheryl is confident that Jane will start on the 1st of July next
Tuesday.
But I guess we could keep in the minutes the – in the recommendation the other words
just in case anything doesn't go on that basis and that there needs to be a day or
two extra.
But we're very hopeful and confident that she will start on the 1st of July because
clearly just to explain to members we must have a header paid service, we must have elections
and returning office so we can't have a gap.
So I think what would be prudent, and I've crossed it out
and I've uncrossed it out on my copy, is to keep those words in
just in case there's any slight hiccup.
But Cheryl says she's confident that Jane will start on the 1st of July.
And then I think obviously just in the same change in recommendation three,
obviously putting Jane's name in there, and then obviously keeping the other
wording around potentially soon as practical and if David needs to step in
for a few days or a week or so then that can happen if we've resolved it can
happen so I'm confident we can keep that in but I'm hoping that we won't need to
Councillor Mark Harris - 0:19:46
need to have three chief executives in the space of a few days. Thank you. Thank
you very much Mike. Okay let's let's go for it and bear with me with our
robust recommendations. So the council resolves to approve the recommendation
of the Performance and Appointments Committee that Jane Portman be appointed as Chief Executive
Officer stroke Returning Officer stroke Electoral Registration Officer for a period of up to
nine months from 1 July 2025 or the date of commencement in post of a Permanent Chief
Executive Officer, whichever is earlier, to ensure the Council's statute duties are fulfilled
and provide sufficient time for a permanent appointment to be made.
2. Appoint the interim chief executive officer as the council's head of paid services service
for the purposes of section 4 of the local government and housing Act 1989 from 1st July
2025 until a permanent chief executive officer is appointed.
3. Approve the recommendation of the selection panel that Jane Portman is appointed as interim
chief executive officer head of paid service, returning officer and electoral registration
officer with effect from 1st July 2025 or as soon as practically possible after that
date. Four, appoint in the event that the interim chief executive officer is unable
to take up the role with effect from the 1st of July 2025, David Stanley, deputy chief
executive officer to undertake the role of head of paid service, returning officer and
electoral registration officer until such time as the interim chief executive officer
is available to take up the role. Five, authorize the head of HR to commence the process of
appointing a permanent chief executive officer, brackets head of paid service and returning
Officer, Electoral Registration Officer.
Shall we go to the vote?
The Councillor Powell is just leaving.
I don't know if he wants to speak.
Oh, that's all right.
We've gone to the thing now.
Ask me after, David.
Before we can take that recommendation.
Well, we've already taken the recommendation,
so we're going to go to the vote now, Councillor Powell.
Yep.
I've got 24 for zero against zero extension, so that is carried.
Yeah, all 25 now.
25 for 24.
Good.
Brilliant.
Okay.
Councillor Parles.
Councillor David Fowles - 0:22:10
I just would like to, I was going to ask, I meant to ask it earlier, but I asked Tom,
who was on the panel, when we recruit interims, they have a history of living along the lines
way away. I was wanting some clarity on where the interim chief of tech will be living.
Will she be moving here temporarily?
I don't think that's relevant.
Why is it relevant?
It's not relevant.
That's what you got to do.
Anyway, I'm so bored.
Councillor Mark Harris - 0:22:51
We'll see you all on the 17th of July
and enjoy the interim period.
Thank you very much.

There are currently no votes to display