Minutes:
(All members of staff present at the meeting, with the exception of the Director and the Democratic Services Officer, remained outside the room whilst this item was under discussion.)
The Committee considered the undernoted report:
“Background Information
Members will be aware that the post of Head of Belfast Waterfront and Ulster Hall has been vacant since June 2011. The post was publicly advertised in January 2012 but no appointment was made. Members will also be aware that as part of the Council’s Investment Programme, £29.5m is being invested to develop the Waterfront Hall’s potential to host larger international conferences, and to create significant economic benefits to the City.
Given this significant investment and programme of work, the Department now wishes to recruit this post on the basis of a two year fixed term contract. The successful post-holder will lead and manage ‘business as usual’ activities effectively and efficiently while making a significant contribution to the planning of a new and different future.
Key Issues
Given the future plans for the Waterfront Hall and the need to promote it on an international scale, it is vital that the successful candidate has previous relevant experience of managing a major commercial entity, preferably in the entertainment or conference markets.
There are limited comparable entertainment and conference venues operating within the sector in NI and it is recommended, given the specialist nature of the post that the council externally advertises this post in the relevant newspapers and undertakes an executive search exercise with an extended closing date for applications for the purpose of identifying and attracting suitably qualified and experienced individuals to apply for this role.
In accordance with the Local Government Staff Commission’s (LGSC) Code of Procedures on Recruitment and Selection:
· the selection panel to recruit this post should comprise the Chair of the Committee and two other elected members from political parties not represented by the Chair, along with the Director of Development and another director (or Head of Human Resources);
· the entire panel should be representative of gender and community background with all panel members having attended recent training in non-discriminatory recruitment and selection techniques; and
· an observer from the LGSC and a professional assessor may also be in attendance during the selection process, if required, but they will not have any voting rights.
Financial
Any executive search activity will be procured in line with council guidelines but it is anticipated that this will cost less than £3,000.
Equality Implications
All selection panel members will have received appropriate training in non-discriminatory recruitment and selection techniques, including awareness of the Equality Commission’s statutory Codes of Practice and Guidance documents.
Recommendations
It is recommended that:
· the Committee agrees the composition of the selection panel comprising the Chair of the Committee, two other elected members from political parties not represented by the Chair, the Director of Development and another director (or Head of Human Resources);
· the Committee agrees to an element of executive search being conducted to identify and attract suitably qualified and experienced candidates to this post;
· the selection panel, following council ratification of this proposal on 6 January 2014, agree the recruitment schedule for the post with public advertisement of the post scheduled for mid-January 2014; and
· in the interests of making an early appointment, that the selection panel be given delegated authority to offer the post to the recommended candidate, with the outcome of the appointment being reported back to the next committee meeting, for notation.
Proposal
Moved by Councillor Keenan,
Seconded by Councillor Kelly,
That the Committee adopts the recommendations within the report, subject to the amendment that the selection panel to be formulated to oversee the appointment of the Head of Belfast Waterfront and Ulster Halls be comprised of the Chairman and the Deputy Chairman, together with Councillor Kelly (or their nominees).
Amendment
Moved by Alderman Stalford,
Seconded by Alderman Ekin,
That the Committee adopts the recommendations within the report, subject to the amendment that the selection panel to be formulated to oversee the appointment of the Head of Belfast Waterfront and Ulster Halls be comprised of the Chairman and the Deputy Chairman, together with Councillor Webb (or their nominees).
On a vote by show of hands, seven Members voted for the amendment and one against and it was declared carried.
The amendment was thereupon put to the meeting as the substantive motion when seven Members voted in favour and one against and it was declared carried.