Agenda item

Report attached

Council considered a report of the Assistant Director of Strategy and Performance, on the Chief Executive’s Working Arrangements, which set out the purpose, consideration and recommendations of a meeting of the of the Appointments Committee held on 24^th October 2024.

 

It was reported that Oldham Council, as part of a broader support package from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, had agreed in principle with the Mayor of Greater Manchester to assist Tameside Council in stabilising services and supporting their workforce. Tameside Council had been facing significant challenges, including ongoing issues with their Children's Services and the recent resignation of their Chief Executive and senior political leadership.

 

A key part of the Greater Manchester support package, and subject to Tameside Council’s acceptance, was a proposal that Oldham’s Chief Executive, Harry Catherall, be seconded to Tameside Council as their Interim Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service for four days per week.

 

It was further reported that to complement the support package, additional assistance would be available from the other nine authorities and the Combined Authority, including support from the Greater Manchester Director of Children Services network and the Lead for Children and Young People in the Combined Authority.

 

The Appointments Committee had considered the Chief Executive’s working arrangements under a secondment and the recruitment of an Acting Chief Executive which would ensure that Oldham Council continued to have strong leadership.

 

Councillor Shah MOVED and Councillor Sykes SECONDED the recommendations of the Appointments Committee:

 

That subject to Tameside Council accepting the proposed Greater Manchester package of support, council;

 

1.         Approve the increase in working hours for Harry Catherall, Chief Executive, from four days to five and the appropriate salary implications, with no other changes to his existing terms and conditions.

 

2.         Enter into a secondment agreement with Tameside Council for the Chief Executive of Oldham Council to serve as Interim Chief Executive at Tameside Council for four days per week, subject to review after six months.

 

3.         Note the internal recruitment process conducted to identify a suitable Acting Chief Executive.

 

4.         Appoint Shelley Kipling as Acting Chief Executive, subject to review after six months

 

AMMENDMENT 1

 

Councillor Quigg MOVED and Councillor Sheldon SECONDED the following AMENDMENT:

 

Resolves to move the Council into Committee, for the remainder of the meeting and to allow members and officers of the Council to present and respond to questions received by members.

A vote was taken on the AMENDMENT which was LOST.

 

AMMENDMENT 2

 

Councillor Arnott MOVED and Councillor Adams SECONDED the following AMENDMENT:

 

Demands a third party independent legal review and for a report to be created which will be presented to the full Council at the time of completion of said report.

 

A recorded vote, in line with the Regulations was then taken on the AMENDMENT as follows:

 

COUNCILLOR		COUNCILLOR
Adams Christine	FOR	Hussain Junaid	AGAINST
Akhtar Shoab	FOR	Hussain Sajed	AGAINST
Al-Hamdani Sam	FOR	Ibrahim Nyla	FOR
Ali Mohon	AGAINST	Iqbal Nadeem	AGAINST
Ali Zaheer	FOR	Islam Mohammed Nazrul	APOLOGIES
Arnott Dave	FOR	Jabbar Abdul	AGAINST
Aslam Naseem	AGAINST	Kenyon Mark	FOR
Azad Montaz Ali	FOR	Kouser Aisha	FOR
Ball Sandra	FOR	Lancaster Luke	FOR
Bashforth Marie	AGAINST	Malik Abdul	AGAINST
Bishop Helen	FOR	Marland Alicia	FOR
Brownridge Barbara	AGAINST	McLaren Colin	AGAINST
Byrne Pam	FOR	Moores Eddie (Deputy Mayor)	AGAINST
Charters Josh	AGAINST	Murphy Dave	FOR
Chowhan Naveed	FOR	Mushtaq Shaid	AGAINST
Cosgrove Angela	AGAINST	Nasheen Umar	AGAINST
Davis Peter	AGAINST	Navesey Lisa	AGAINST
Dean Peter	AGAINST	Quigg Lewis	FOR
Ghafoor Kamran	FOR	Rustidge Ken	AGAINST
Goodwin Chris	AGAINST	Shah Arooj	AGAINST
Hamblett Louie	FOR	Sharp Beth	FOR
Harkness Garth	FOR	Sheldon Graham	FOR
Harrison Holly	AGAINST	Shuttleworth Graham	AGAINST
Hince Marc	AGAINST	Sykes Howard	FOR
Hindle Neil	AGAINST	Taylor Elaine	AGAINST
Hobin Brian	AGAINST	Wahid Abdul	FOR
Hughes Jade	FOR	Wilkinson Mark	FOR
Hurley Maggie	FOR	Williamson Diane	FOR
Hussain Aftab	AGAINST	Woodvine Max	FOR
Hussain Fida	AGAINST	Chauhan Zahid (MAYOR)	AGAINST

.

On a recorded VOTE being taken 29 VOTES were cast in FAVOUR of the AMENDMENT with 30 VOTES cast AGAINST and there were 0 ABSTENTIONS. The AMENDMENT was therefore LOST

 

AMMENDMENT 3

Councillor Sharp MOVED and Councillor Byrne SECONDED the following AMENDMENT:

 

Demands that the Interim Borough Solicitor provide full legal advice on this report which will be presented to the full Council at the time of completion of said report.

 

A recorded vote, in line with the Regulations was then taken on the AMENDMENT as follows:

 

COUNCILLOR		COUNCILLOR
Adams Christine	FOR	Hussain Junaid	AGAINST
Akhtar Shoab	FOR	Hussain Sajed	AGAINST
Al-Hamdani Sam	FOR	Ibrahim Nyla	FOR
Ali Mohon	AGAINST	Iqbal Nadeem	AGAINST
Ali Zaheer	FOR	Islam Mohammed Nazrul	APOLOGIES
Arnott Dave	FOR	Jabbar Abdul	AGAINST
Aslam Naseem	AGAINST	Kenyon Mark	FOR
Azad Montaz Ali	FOR	Kouser Aisha	FOR
Ball Sandra	FOR	Lancaster Luke	FOR
Bashforth Marie	AGAINST	Malik Abdul	AGAINST
Bishop Helen	FOR	Marland Alicia	FOR
Brownridge Barbara	AGAINST	McLaren Colin	AGAINST
Byrne Pam	FOR	Moores Eddie (Deputy Mayor)	AGAINST
Charters Josh	AGAINST	Murphy Dave	FOR
Chowhan Naveed	FOR	Mushtaq Shaid	AGAINST
Cosgrove Angela	AGAINST	Nasheen Umar	AGAINST
Davis Peter	AGAINST	Navesey Lisa	AGAINST
Dean Peter	AGAINST	Quigg Lewis	FOR
Ghafoor Kamran	FOR	Rustidge Ken	AGAINST
Goodwin Chris	AGAINST	Shah Arooj	AGAINST
Hamblett Louie	FOR	Sharp Beth	FOR
Harkness Garth	FOR	Sheldon Graham	FOR
Harrison Holly	AGAINST	Shuttleworth Graham	AGAINST
Hince Marc	AGAINST	Sykes Howard	FOR
Hindle Neil	AGAINST	Taylor Elaine	AGAINST
Hobin Brian	AGAINST	Wahid Abdul	FOR
Hughes Jade	FOR	Wilkinson Mark	FOR
Hurley Maggie	FOR	Williamson Diane	FOR
Hussain Aftab	AGAINST	Woodvine Max	FOR
Hussain Fida	AGAINST	Chauhan Zahid (MAYOR)	AGAINST

.

On a recorded VOTE being taken 29 VOTES were cast in FAVOUR of the  AMENDMENT with 30 VOTES cast AGAINST and there were 0 ABSTENTIONS. The AMENDMENT was therefore LOST

 

AMMENDMENT 4

Councillor Quigg MOVED and Councillor Arnott SECONDED the following AMENDMENT:

 

Demand a full independent investigation by a third party into the calling of this meeting to ensure that the correct procedure were followed in the issuance of summons.

 

A recorded vote, in line with the Regulations was then taken on the AMENDMENT as follows:

 

COUNCILLOR		COUNCILLOR
Adams Christine	FOR	Hussain Junaid	AGAINST
Akhtar Shoab	FOR	Hussain Sajed	AGAINST
Al-Hamdani Sam	FOR	Ibrahim Nyla	FOR
Ali Mohon	AGAINST	Iqbal Nadeem	AGAINST
Ali Zaheer	FOR	Islam Mohammed Nazrul	APOLOGIES
Arnott Dave	FOR	Jabbar Abdul	AGAINST
Aslam Naseem	AGAINST	Kenyon Mark	FOR
Azad Montaz Ali	FOR	Kouser Aisha	FOR
Ball Sandra	FOR	Lancaster Luke	FOR
Bashforth Marie	AGAINST	Malik Abdul	AGAINST
Bishop Helen	FOR	Marland Alicia	FOR
Brownridge Barbara	AGAINST	McLaren Colin	AGAINST
Byrne Pam	FOR	Moores Eddie (Deputy Mayor)	AGAINST
Charters Josh	AGAINST	Murphy Dave	FOR
Chowhan Naveed	FOR	Mushtaq Shaid	AGAINST
Cosgrove Angela	AGAINST	Nasheen Umar	AGAINST
Davis Peter	AGAINST	Navesey Lisa	AGAINST
Dean Peter	AGAINST	Quigg Lewis	FOR
Ghafoor Kamran	FOR	Rustidge Ken	AGAINST
Goodwin Chris	AGAINST	Shah Arooj	AGAINST
Hamblett Louie	FOR	Sharp Beth	FOR
Harkness Garth	FOR	Sheldon Graham	FOR
Harrison Holly	AGAINST	Shuttleworth Graham	AGAINST
Hince Marc	AGAINST	Sykes Howard	FOR
Hindle Neil	AGAINST	Taylor Elaine	AGAINST
Hobin Brian	AGAINST	Wahid Abdul	FOR
Hughes Jade	FOR	Wilkinson Mark	FOR
Hurley Maggie	FOR	Williamson Diane	FOR
Hussain Aftab	AGAINST	Woodvine Max	FOR
Hussain Fida	AGAINST	Chauhan Zahid (MAYOR)	AGAINST

.

On a recorded VOTE being taken 29 VOTES were cast in FAVOUR of the AMENDMENT with 30 VOTES cast AGAINST and there were 0 ABSTENTIONS. The AMENDMENT was therefore LOST

 

AMMENDMENT 5

Councillor Wahid MOVED and Councillor Chowhan SECONDED the following AMENDMENT:

 

The Oldham Group would have wished the following information to have been included in the Report

1. Section 2.1 and 2.2 – Chief Executive Working Arrangements

• A clarification must be added that, while Harry Catherall remains the Head of Paid Service, a report will be submitted to Full Council. This report will outline:
  • The risks associated with his limited availability in Oldham.
  • The mitigation measures in place to ensure the continuity of leadership.

 

2. Section 5.3 – Legal Implications

• The Borough Solicitor will ensure legal compliance by submitting a comprehensive report to Full Council, confirming that:
  • All statutory duties have been fulfilled.
  • The arrangement is defensible against any legal challenges, including judicial reviews.

 

3. Section 3.3 – Recruitment of a Permanent Chief Executive

• The timely recruitment of a permanent successor Chief Executive. The  position to be advertised, both internally and externally.

 

These amendments are proposed to ensure accountability, legal compliance, and the transparent recruitment of a permanent Chief Executive, securing strong leadership for Oldham moving forward

 

Additional Recommendations:

1.         The Chief Executive, Harry Catherall, is to submit a report to Full Council outlining how the proposed arrangement is in the best interest of Oldham. This report must:

2.         The Borough Solicitor is instructed to submit a separate report to Full Council, ensuring that:

3.         To maintain leadership continuity, the second and fourth recommendations of the report be amended to remove the words  ‘subject to review after six months’  and  be replaced with an additional recommendation.

To require the Appointments Committee to immediately review arrangements for the post 6 month period with a view to ensuring that Oldham has a permanent Chief Executive after that time and that any successor post is advertised both internally and externally.

 

 

A recorded vote, in line with the Regulations was then taken on the  AMENDMENT as follows:

 

COUNCILLOR		COUNCILLOR
Adams Christine	FOR	Hussain Junaid	AGAINST
Akhtar Shoab	FOR	Hussain Sajed	AGAINST
Al-Hamdani Sam	FOR	Ibrahim Nyla	FOR
Ali Mohon	AGAINST	Iqbal Nadeem	AGAINST
Ali Zaheer	FOR	Islam Mohammed Nazrul	APOLOGIES
Arnott Dave	FOR	Jabbar Abdul	AGAINST
Aslam Naseem	AGAINST	Kenyon Mark	FOR
Azad Montaz Ali	FOR	Kouser Aisha	FOR
Ball Sandra	FOR	Lancaster Luke	FOR
Bashforth Marie	AGAINST	Malik Abdul	AGAINST
Bishop Helen	FOR	Marland Alicia	FOR
Brownridge Barbara	AGAINST	McLaren Colin	AGAINST
Byrne Pam	FOR	Moores Eddie (Deputy Mayor)	AGAINST
Charters Josh	AGAINST	Murphy Dave	FOR
Chowhan Naveed	FOR	Mushtaq Shaid	AGAINST
Cosgrove Angela	AGAINST	Nasheen Umar	AGAINST
Davis Peter	AGAINST	Navesey Lisa	AGAINST
Dean Peter	AGAINST	Quigg Lewis	FOR
Ghafoor Kamran	FOR	Rustidge Ken	AGAINST
Goodwin Chris	AGAINST	Shah Arooj	AGAINST
Hamblett Louie	FOR	Sharp Beth	FOR
Harkness Garth	FOR	Sheldon Graham	FOR
Harrison Holly	AGAINST	Shuttleworth Graham	AGAINST
Hince Marc	AGAINST	Sykes Howard	FOR
Hindle Neil	AGAINST	Taylor Elaine	AGAINST
Hobin Brian	AGAINST	Wahid Abdul	FOR
Hughes Jade	FOR	Wilkinson Mark	FOR
Hurley Maggie	FOR	Williamson Diane	FOR
Hussain Aftab	AGAINST	Woodvine Max	FOR
Hussain Fida	AGAINST	Chauhan Zahid (MAYOR)	AGAINST

.

On a recorded VOTE being taken 29 VOTES were cast in FAVOUR of the AMENDMENT with 30 VOTES cast AGAINST and there were 0 ABSTENTIONS. The AMENDMENT was therefore LOST

 

A recorded vote, in line with the Regulations was then taken on the MOTION as follows:

 

 

COUNCILLOR		COUNCILLOR
Adams Christine	AGAINST	Hussain Junaid	FOR
Akhtar Shoab	ABSTAIN	Hussain Sajed	FOR
Al-Hamdani Sam	FOR	Ibrahim Nyla	ABSTAIN
Ali Mohon	FOR	Iqbal Nadeem	FOR
Ali Zaheer	ABSTAIN	Islam Mohammed Nazrul	APOLOGIES
Arnott Dave	AGAINST	Jabbar Abdul	FOR
Aslam Naseem	FOR	Kenyon Mark	AGAINST
Azad Montaz Ali	AGAINST	Kouser Aisha	ABSTAIN
Ball Sandra	AGAINST	Lancaster Luke	AGAINST
Bashforth Marie	FOR	Malik Abdul	FOR
Bishop Helen	AGAINST	Marland Alicia	-
Brownridge Barbara	FOR	McLaren Colin	FOR
Byrne Pam	AGAINST	Moores Eddie (Deputy Mayor)	FOR
Charters Josh	FOR	Murphy Dave	-
Chowhan Naveed	ABSTAIN	Mushtaq Shaid	FOR
Cosgrove Angela	FOR	Nasheen Umar	FOR
Davis Peter	FOR	Navesey Lisa	FOR
Dean Peter	FOR	Quigg Lewis	AGAINST
Ghafoor Kamran	ABSTAIN	Rustidge Ken	FOR
Goodwin Chris	FOR	Shah Arooj	FOR
Hamblett Louie	AGAINST	Sharp Beth	-
Harkness Garth	FOR	Sheldon Graham	AGAINST
Harrison Holly	FOR	Shuttleworth Graham	FOR
Hince Marc	FOR	Sykes Howard	FOR
Hindle Neil	FOR	Taylor Elaine	FOR
Hobin Brian	FOR	Wahid Abdul	ABSTAIN
Hughes Jade	AGAINST	Wilkinson Mark	AGAINST
Hurley Maggie	AGAINST	Williamson Diane	ABSTAIN
Hussain Aftab	FOR	Woodvine Max	AGAINST
Hussain Fida	FOR	Chauhan Zahid (MAYOR)	FOR

.

On a recorded VOTE being taken 33 VOTES were cast in FAVOUR of the MOTION with 15 VOTES cast AGAINST and there were 8 ABSTENTIONS. The MOTION was therefore CARRIED.

 

RESOLVED:

That subject to Tameside Council accepting the proposed Greater Manchester package of support, council;

 

1.         Approve the increase in working hours for Harry Catherall, Chief Executive, from four days to five and the appropriate salary implications, with no other changes to his existing terms and conditions.

 

2.         Enter into a secondment agreement with Tameside Council for the Chief Executive of Oldham Council to serve as Interim Chief Executive at Tameside Council for four days per week, subject to review after six months.

 

3.         Note the internal recruitment process conducted to identify a suitable Acting Chief Executive.

 

5.         Appoint Shelley Kipling as Acting Chief Executive, subject to review after six months.