COUNCIL – 24 FEBRUARY 2009

15APPOINTMENT OF TREASURER TO THE WEST HERTS CREMATORIUM JOINT COMMITTEE

(CE)

1.Summary

1.1This report seeks approval to the appointment of the Director of Corporate Resources and Governance as Treasurer to the West Herts Crematorium Joint Committee.

2.Details

2.1The West Herts Crematorium Joint Committee operates the crematorium through a manager and staff supported by three honorary posts – Clerk, Surveyor and Treasurer. The latter post will become vacant at the end of March when the current Treasurer retires and subject to the Council’s agreement, the Clerk has indicated that he will propose to the Chair of the Joint Committee that the Council’s Director of Corporate Resources and Governance, David Gardner, be appointed to the vacancy.

2.2The day to day financial work is carried out by a consultant. The Treasurer is responsible for overseeing the finances and liaising with the external auditor. There are two formal meetings of the Joint Committee each year, in January when the charges and budget for the forthcoming year are set and in June when the preceding year’s accounts are accepted.

2.3The post represents a separate variable time employment on an annual salary of £3,725 and is pensionable. The Director of Corporate Resources and Governance’s terms and conditions are determined by the ‘Joint Negotiating Committee for Chief Officers of Local Authorities’ and as such include the condition that “officers within the purview of this Committee shall devote their whole-time service to the work of the council and shall not engage in any other business or take up any other additional appointment without the express consent of the council”.

3.Options/Reasons for Recommendation

3.1The recommendation seeks the Council’s approval to the Director of Corporate Resources and Governance becoming Treasurer to the West Herts Crematorium Joint Committee. The Council could refuse the request in which case the Joint Committee would need to approach another of the constituent authorities to provide the Treasurer.

4.Policy/Budget Reference and Implications

4.1The recommendations in this report are within the Council’s agreed policy and budgets. The Council is a party to the West Herts Crematorium Joint Committee originally set up on the 21 December 1973. The current agreement is dated the 1 June 2001 in line with the changes required by the Local Government Act 2000

5.Legal, Equal Opportunities, Staffing, Environmental, Community Safety, Customer Services Centre, Communications & Website, Risk Management and Health & Safety Implications

5.1None specific.

5.Financial Implications

5.1It is proposed that the Director of Corporate Resources and Governance’s contract with the council is amended to cover the appointment on the agreement that reimbursement in full be made by the Joint Committee. The contract will revert to the existing terms and conditions when the postholder ceases to carry out the role.

13.Risk Management and Health & Safety Implications

13.1The Council has agreed its risk management strategy which can be found on the website at In addition, the risks of the proposals in the report have also been assessed against the Council’s duties under Health and Safety legislation relating to employees, visitors and persons affected by our operations. The risk management implications of this report are detailed below.

13.2The subject of this report is covered by the shared services (client side) service plan. Any risks resulting from this report will be included in the risk register and, if necessary, managed within this plan.

13.3The following table gives the risks if the recommendation is agreed, together with a scored assessment of its impact and likelihood:

Description of Risk / Impact / Likelihood
1 / That the appointment significantly detracts from the DCRG’s substantive role with the Council / II / E

13.4There are no risks to the Council in rejecting the recommendation.

13.5Of the risks detailed above none is already managed within a service plan.

13.6The above risks are plotted on the matrix below depending on the scored assessments of impact and likelihood, detailed definitions of which are included in the risk management strategy. The Council has determined its aversion to risk and is prepared to tolerate risks where the combination of impact and likelihood are plotted in the shaded area of the matrix. The remaining risks require a treatment plan.

Likelihood / A / Impact / Likelihood
B / V = Catastrophic / A = >98%
C / IV = Critical / B = 75% - 97%
D / III = Significant / C = 50% - 74%
E / 1 / II = Marginal / D = 25% - 49%
F / I = Negligible / E = 3% - 24%
I / II / III / IV / V / F = <2%
Impact

13.7In the officers’ opinion none of the new risks above, were they to come about, would seriously prejudice the achievement of the Strategic Plan and are therefore operational risks. The effectiveness of treatment plans are reviewed by the Audit Committee annually.

14.Recommendation

14.1That the Council approves the Director of Corporate Resources and Governance becoming Treasurer to the West Herts Crematorium Joint Committee.

Report prepared by:Steven Halls – Chief Executive

Background Papers

None

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