Agenda item - Appointment of the Chief Executive

To receive the recommendations of the Appointments Panel on the appointment of the Chief Executive.  Report of the Interim Executive Director for Finance & Resources (to be circulated following the final interviews for the post on the 20^th October 2015).

35.1         The Mayor noted that the report on the appointment of the Chief Executive had been referred from the Appointments Panel and called on Councillor Morgan as Chair of the Panel to introduce the report.

35.2         Councillor Morgan stated that it was his happy duty to move the recommendation that Mr. Geoff Raw be appointed as the Council’s new Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service.  He stated that Geoff needed no introduction having served as the Executive Director for Environment, Development & Housing and more recently as the Acting Chief Executive.  He believed that Geoff would prove to be an outstanding Chief Executive and continue to bring benefits to the city such as City Deal and the Greater Brighton Economic Board.

35.3         Councillor G. Theobald stated that the Conservative Group fully supported the recommendation to appoint Geoff Raw as the new Chief Executive.  He had a difficult task ahead but one that he hoped Geoff would take forward.

35.4         Councillor Mac Cafferty stated that he wished to echo the comments of the two Group Leaders and to thank those officers including Sue Moorman involved in the appointment process.  He also wished to thank the Chair of the Panel and other panel members and felt that they had worked well together and made a very good recommendation.

35.5         The Mayor stated that the recommendation to appoint Mr. Geoff Raw as the Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service had been moved and put it to the vote.

35.6         RESOLVED:

(1)          That Mr. Geoff Raw be appointed as the Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service;

(2)          That the salary for the post be set at £150,000 per annum;

(3)          That the appointment take effect from the 23^rd October 2015;

(4)          That the Interim Executive Director of Finance & Resources, after consultation with the Leader of the Council, be authorised to take all steps necessary or incidental to implementation of the appointment, including any detailed terms or administrative arrangements that may be outstanding.

35.7         The Mayor then offered her congratulations on his appointment and invited the Chief Executive to address the Council.

35.8         The Chief Executive thanked the Council and noted that it was likely to be the only occasion whereby he was able to address the meeting.  He stated that he was deeply honoured to have been given the role and noted that it was a long way to come for a boy from a pit village school in the North East of England.  He felt privileged to be able to serve all Members of the Council and was determined to give it his all.  He had received many personal messages of congratulations and would try to respond to them over the next few days.  He wanted to thank the members of the Appointment Panel and the officer team that supported the panel during a thorough and exhausting process.  He offered his commiserations to the other candidates and his thanks to his ELT colleagues.  He also wished to give his special thanks to his wife, Sue who had made their home in the city despite having to commute to London regularly herself and was sure she would keep his feet firmly on the ground.  He was both excited and ambitious for the Council and was looking forward to meeting the challenges ahead.

Note:     During consideration of the item, Mr. Raw vacated his seat as Acting Chief Executive and left the room.