Chief Officers Employment Committee - 5 December 2025

The meeting began with a statement that no councillors had any declarations of interest to declare. Councillor Alvey moved, and Councillor Frost seconded, that the minutes of the Chief Officers Employment Committee (COEC) meeting held on 13 November 2025 were correctly recorded and should be signed by the Chairman. A similar motion was passed for the COEC meeting on 21 November 2025, moved by Councillor Frost and seconded by Councillor Ashton. Both motions were adopted without opposition.

The Committee then confirmed its remit concerning the assessment of the Chief Executive’s contribution and the setting of performance and development objectives for that role. The Chairman identified no other business that required urgent attention at that time.

In accordance with the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended), the Council resolved to exclude the press and public from consideration of specific confidential business. The exclusion was justified on the grounds that the material would likely disclose personal or identifying information about individuals. Subsequent motions, moved and seconded by the, deliber the and the confidential minutes of the COEC meetings on 13 November 2025 and 21 November 2025, confirming that they were correctly recorded and should be signed by the Chairman. These confidential minutes contained the details of a private debate.

Following that private debate, the Council resolved, on motion by Councillor Frost and seconded by Councillor Alvey, that the COEC recommend Annabel Scholes for the post of Chief Operating Officer and Section 151 Officer, subject to the standard objections process and the verification of suitable references. The resolution also authorised the Chief Executive or the Chief People Officer to offer the role to the next eligible candidate if the primary candidate declined, in accordance with the Committee’s agreed procedures. No further urgent confidential business was identified.