COUNTY BOROUGH OF BLAENAU GWENT

REPORT TO: /
THE MAYOR & MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL
REPORT SUBJECT: /
RECRUITMENT OF the Corporate director of education
REPORT AUTHOR: /
david waggett, chief executive
LEAD OFFICER: /
DAVID WAGGETT, CHIEF EXECUTIVE

SUMMARY REPORT

1. /

PURPOSE OF REPORT

1.1

/ The purpose of this report is to seek support to pay a market supplement in addition to the basic salary to recruit to the post of Corporate Director of Education.

2.

/ LINK TO CORPORATE STRATEGIES
2.1 / Recruitment and Pay Policies.
3. / SUMMARY/PROPOSALS
3.1
3.2
3.3 / The Education Recovery Board has considered a number of options in relation to the future management and leadership of the Education Service given the recent failure to recruit a Corporate Director.
The board has agreed that the role of Corporate Director of Education be readvertised and to recruit the right calibre of candidate that the remuneration package is enhanced with a market supplement in addition to basic salary. The remuneration package on offer would be the maximum point of the Chief Officer grade per annum plus a market supplement up to £95,000 per annum.
In addition the services of an Executive Search Company will be engaged to support the Council in the recruitment and selection process.
4. /

RECOMMENDATIONS

4.1 /

That Council supports the payment of a market supplement as an addition to basic salary for the post of Corporate Director of Education in order to attract the right candidate.

DETAILED REPORT
1. /

BACKGROUND

1.1 / Following the ending of the Education Partnership arrangement with Newport City Council at the end of January 2014, interim leadership arrangements have been put in place during which time the Council will establish new local self management arrangements for the Education Service. The key priority being to put a strong and experienced leadership team in place as soon as possible.
1.2
1.3 /

The Education Recovery Board agreed to go out to advertisement to recruit a Corporate Director of Education which was advertised at the end January 2014 at a salary level of circ £80,000 with some scope for negotiation on starting salary.

The response to this advertisement was limited to four applicants all of whom, following a shortlisting exercise, did not fully meet the essential requirements for the role. This resulted in the Council failing to recruit to this key post.
2. / PRESENT POSITION
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
2.5 / The Chief Executive has presented a number of options to the Education Recovery Board to consider in relation to the future management and leadership of the Education Service given the recent failure to recruit a Corporate Director.
The Board, having considered all options, has agreed to readvertise the role of Corporate Director of Education with a revised remuneration package. In gauging the current market conditions for similar roles it was felt to recruit the right calibre of candidate for this post that the remuneration package should be enhanced with a market supplement in addition to basic salary.
The payment of a market supplement has been utilised by the Council in respect of previous hard fill senior posts and is designed to address exceptional circumstances when the Council is experiencing or clearly identifies severe recruitment and retention difficulties.
The remuneration package on offer would be the maximum point of the Chief Officer grade plus a market supplement up to £95,000 per annum.
In addition the services of an Executive Search Company will be engaged to support the Council in the recruitment and selection process.
3.
3.1
4 /

PROPOSALS

That a market supplement is paid in addition to basic salary for the post of Corporate Director of Education as detailed in paragraph 2.4 to ensure that the Council recruits to this key role.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

4.1 / The financial implications associated with the market supplement will be funded from the existing Education Department budget.
5. /

STATEMENT CONFIRMING THAT CONSIDERATION

HAS BEEN GIVEN TO RELEVANT LEGISLATION

5.1 / Consideration has been given to the relevant legislation in the development of the proposals within this report.
6. / STAFFING/PERSONNEL IMPLICATIONS
6.1 /

The implications of not recruiting to this key post will have significant implications for the Education Service and the Council in meeting the improvement agenda.

7. /

CONSULTATION

HUMAN RESOURCES / CHIEF LEGAL OFFICER / MONITORING OFFICER / DIRECTOR OF RESOURCES / S.151 / OTHER
Yes / Yes / CMT
8. /

RECOMMENDATION

8.1 /

That Council supports the payment of a market supplement as detailed in paragraph 2.4 in respect of the post of Corporate Director of Education.

12th March 2014