Issue - meetings

Background:

This report presented information on vacancies that officers had requested approval to commence recruitment for, following the process agreed by the Cabinet on 7 January 2003 (decision number 9/2003).

Details of the posts were set out within Appendix 1 to the report.

The report also detailed a proposal for a revised process for authorisation of recruitment to vacant posts whereby the Leader and relevant Portfolio Holder in each case would be responsible for the consideration and determination of any requests to unfreeze vacant posts, which are not exempted from the Recruitment Freeze following consultation with the relevant service area and HR, instead of a requirement to be reported to Cabinet meetings.

The report explained that this new process was considered appropriate to minimise unnecessary delay in filling vacancies where it was considered that recruitment should proceed in the interests of maintaining service standards, to achieve the Council’s priorities or in order to meet statutory obligations.

Reasons:

The posts presented to Cabinet would support the efficient running of the Council.

Revisions to the recruitment freeze process will result in a more streamlined approach whilst preserving the rigour of close scrutiny of the need for recruitment in the context of prevailing budget pressures and Council priorities.