Agenda, decisions and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 10th April 2014.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 10th April 2014 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive from Members declarations as to disclosable pecuniary, non disclosable pecuniary or non-pecuniary interests in relation to any Agenda item.  See Notes below.

No declarations were received.

To consider a report from the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Economic Well-Being) outlining their deliberations on the call-in relating to Members IT.

The Cabinet noted the views expressed by the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Economic Well-Being).

Further to Minute No. 13/84 and with the assistance of a report by the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Economic Well-Being) (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet considered the deliberations of the Panel following its “call in” of the decision made by the Cabinet on the Future of Members IT at its meeting on the 10th April 2014.

Members were advised that the Panel had recognised the need to remove Members’ connectivity to the Council’s network for security purposes and had noted that the Authority had secured two domain names which could be used for Members’ email addresses to create a consistent and professional approach.

With regard to the Cabinet’s decision to withdraw printed agendas and reports for Members meetings, where possible, the Panel had expressed concern with regard to the increased costs which Members might incur when printing documents at home and sought clarification that printed agendas and reports would be provided on request. In response, the Deputy Executive Leader stressed that the arrangements were flexible and those wishing to have a printed agenda would be able to.

On the issue of newly elected or re-elected Members being required to participate in the new scheme, the Panel had felt that the decision should refer to the offer of financial assistance to enable the purchase an iPad. In the discussion that ensued, Executive Councillors reiterated that the minimum requirement for members to participate in the arrangements was the ownership of a desk based PC. Furthermore, the Cabinet felt the recommendations of the Panel were too prescriptive and did not offer the flexibility of the approved scheme.

Having referred to the need to gain Public Services Network compliance, to respond to the support expiry deadline for Windows XP and to improve on Members’ existing IT experience and given the significant savings related to the scheme, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

(a)  that the views expressed by the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Economic Well-Being) be noted; and

(b)  that the resolution at Minute No 13/84 of the Cabinet meeting held on 21st May 2014 be reaffirmed.

To resolve:-

that the press and public be excluded from the meeting because the business to be transacted contains information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

RESOLVED

that the public be excluded from the meeting because the business to be transacted contained exempt information which would disclose information relating to an individual and would be likely to reveal the identity of that individual

The Executive Leader to report on the outcomes of the meetings of the Senior Officer’s Panel held on 14th, 16th, 19th, 20th and 21May 2014.

confirmed that there was no material or well founded objection to the Panel’s proposals with regard to the offer of appointments to the following positions:

·  Corporate Director (Services);

·  Corporate Director (Delivery);

·  Head of Community;

·  Head of Leisure & Health;

·  Head of Resources;

·  Head of Development; and

·  Head of Customer Services.

The Managing Director reported on the outcomes of the meetings of the Senior Officer’s Panel which had interviewed short listed candidates for seven newly established senior officer posts.

Having been acquainted with the requirement of paragraph 4 (e) of the Officer Employment Procedure Rules, the Cabinet confirmed that there was no material or well founded objection to the Panel’s proposals with regard to the offer of appointments to the following positions:

The Executive Leader referred to the impending retirement of Councillor N J Guyatt who would not be seeking re-election to the District Council in tomorrow’s elections. Particular tribute was paid to the contributions made to the Council during his three years as Deputy Executive Leader and his commitment to Huntingdonshire since 1998.