Agenda and minutes

The Chair will read out the following statement:

“This meeting is being webcast live to our website (https://harlow.public-i.tv/core/portal/home) and will be available for repeated viewing after the meeting has ended.

By continuing to attend this meeting, you are consenting to being filmed and to appearing in the webcast.

I would like to remind all those participating in the meeting to use their microphones when they speak, and to turn them off once they have finished talking.”

The Chair said the meeting was being webcast live and would be available for repeated viewing after the meeting has ended. By continuing to attend the meeting, you were consenting to being filmed and to appearing in the webcast.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Mike Garnett, Michael Houlihan, Maggie Hulcoop, Mark Ingall, Daniella Pritchard, Stacy Seales, Lanie Shears, Jake Shepherd and Nancy Watson.

Councillors’ declarations of interest (if any) in relation to any items on the agenda.

None.

Full Council received a report on the appointment of Managing Director and Executive Directors.

Proposed by Councillor Dan Swords (seconded by Councillor James Griggs) it was:

RESOLVED that:

A      Full Council notes and endorses the decisions taken by the Appointments Panel on Thursday 23 January 2025 as per the constitution, to appoint James Gardner, Alan Townshend, Julie Ellis, and Giles Clarke to the new Chief Officer roles of Managing Director and Executive Directors respectively.

B      In accordance with Section 4 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, and upon the recommendation of the Appointments Panel, James Gardner be designated as Head of Paid Service from Monday 3 February 2025 as detailed in paragraphs 17 and 18.

C      In accordance with Section 5 and Section 35 of the Representation of the People Act 1983, James Gardner be designated as Electoral Registration Officer and Returning Officer from Monday 3 February 2025 as detailed in paragraph 19.

D      Delegation is given to the Monitoring Officer, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to make the minor required updates to the constitution to reflect the new Chief Officer roles, including but not limited to updating the definition of Chief Officers within the constitution and any other such references to ‘Chief Executive’ or ‘Directors’ as well as any other minor updates to bring the constitution up to date; and that such updates are made before Monday 3 February 2025.

E      The Leader of the Council and Monitoring Officer be formally required to present the work that has been ongoing to design a new constitution for the council to a meeting of the Constitution Panel with the intention of the new draft constitution coming to Full Council as soon as is practically possible for adoption to reflect the new Executive Management Structure, scheme of delegations, governance framework and other such changes.

F      In accordance with Section 5 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, Rebecca Farrant be designated as Acting Monitoring Officer with effect from Friday 21 February 2025.

Such other business which, in the opinion of the Chair, should be received as a matter of urgency by reason of special circumstances to be specified in the minutes.

None.