Recruitment and appointment declarations
When someone applies for a job with the council, they must say if they are related to a current councillor or council officer (as parent, grandparent, partner, child, stepchild, adopted child, grandchild, sibling, uncle, aunt, niece or nephew). If they are, they can only be appointed with approval of the relevant Chief Officer, or an officer nominated by them.
Applicants must not ask councillors to support their application – the council will disqualify any applicant who does this. Councillors must also not try seek support for the appointment of any candidate. However, councillors and the Mayor are allowed to provide a written reference to include with the application.
Recruitment of Chief Executive and Chief Officers
When the council plans to appoint a Chief Officer and is considering candidates from outside its existing officers, it must:
- write a statement describing the duties and the qualifications or qualities needed
- advertise the role in a way that reaches suitable qualified candidates
- provide the statement to anyone who asks for it.
Appointment of Chief Executive
The Council appoints the Chief Executive. However, this appointment can only go ahead if no Cabinet Member raises a valid objection.
Appointment of Chief Officers and Service Heads
The Chief Executive (or their nominee) is responsible for appointing Chief Officers (except the Chief Executive) and Service Heads or equivalent roles. These appointments must be made in consultation with the Leader.
Other appointments
The Chief Executive (or their nominee) is responsible for the appointment of officers below the Service Head (or equivalent) (except for assistants to the Mayor). Councillors are not allowed to make these appointments.
Dismissals and disciplinary action: senior officers
The Council is responsible for dismissing the Chief Executive, Monitoring Officer, and Chief Finance Officer (known as Statutory Officers). If a committee or officer is handling the dismissal process, the full Council must approve it before formal notice is given.
A Statutory Officer can be suspended (on full pay) for up to 2 months while misconduct is investigated.
Before any dismissal, a Panel must be appointed to advise the Council. This Panel should include at least two Independent Persons (appointed under Section 28 (7) of Localism Act 2011). The Council must appoint the Panel at least 20 working days before the relevant meeting.
Before voting on the dismissal, the Council must consider:
- the Panel’s advice, views or recommendations,
- the conclusions of any investigation into the proposed dismissal
- any representations from the Statutory Officer.
Any renumeration, allowance or fees paid to Independent Persons for their role on the Panel must not exceed what they normally receive under the Localism Act.
Other dismissals and disciplinary action
Councillors are not involved in dismissing or disciplining staff below Service Head level, unless their involvement is needed as part of an investigation into alleged misconduct.
More information
To learn more about procedure rules see the full document: