Agenda item

The Council was required by Section 5 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 to designate one of its officers as the officer responsible for performing the duties imposed by this section (known as the Monitoring Officer).

At its meeting on 18 December 2019, the Council had agreed that Mr Richard Payne be appointed as the Council’s Monitoring Officer until further notice, pending the appointment of the Head of Legal Services.  Members were advised that the Appointments Sub Committee had agreed to appoint Gavin Ramtohal as the Head of Legal Services and had recommended that he be appointed as the Council’s Monitoring Officer.

In accordance with Section 151 of the Local Government Act 1982 and Section 113 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 there was a statutory requirement on the Council to designate one of its officers as its Section 151 Officer/Chief Finance Officer.

The current Section 151 Officer, Mr Kelvin Menon, would be leaving the Council’s employment on 8 March 2020. The Appointments Sub Committee had agreed to appoint Simon Little as the Interim Executive Head of Finance and had recommended that he be appointed as the Section 151 Officer. The current Deputy Section 151 Officer, Mr Adrian Flynn, would be asked to act as Section 151 Officer in the period from 9 March 2020 until such time Mr Little commenced employment with the Council.

RESOLVED that

(i)        Mr Gavin Ramtohal be appointed as the Council’s Monitoring Officer upon him commencing his employment with the Council as Head of Legal Services;

(ii)      Mr Simon Little be appointed as the Section 151 Officer/Chief Finance Officer upon him commencing his employment with the Council as Interim Executive Head of Finance; and

(iii)      Mr Adrian Flynn be appointed as the Section 151 Officer from 9 March until such time as Mr Simon Little takes up his employment.