The subject of the decision:

This report sought approval for the proposed arrangements and appointment of an interim Section 151 Officer/Chief Finance Officer due to the current post holder leaving the authority in August 2021.  The Council is legally required to appoint three “statutory officers”.  These are the Head of Paid Service (the Council’s Chief Executive), the Monitoring Officer (currently the Director of Law and Governance) and the Section 151 Officer/Chief Finance Officer (the Director of Finance and Commercial).  The Section 151 Officer is responsible, amongst other things, for the proper administration of the Council’s financial affairs and is required to be a suitably qualified and experienced individual holding a recognised professional accountancy qualification.

The Leader, on behalf of the Council, thanked Louise Branford-White, Director of Finance and Commercial (section 151 officer) for her dedication and hard work for the authority, especially during the course of the Covid-19 pandemic ensuring that systems were in place regarding grant funding.

Alternative options considered:

None.

The reason for the decision:

It is a legal requirement that the Council designates one of its officers as its Section 151/Chief Finance Officer who shall have responsibility for overseeing the proper administration of the Council’s financial affairs (section 151 of the Local Government Act 1972).  That officer need not be an employee of the Council and so the function can be discharged by an external appointee.

The decision:

That Cabinet approves and recommends to Council that:-

(1)      the Council appoints through a recruitment agency an external named interim Section 151 Officer/Chief Finance Officer for a period of up to 12 months commencing in July 2021;

(2)      the Council delegates to the Chief Executive the authority to agree the final terms of the appointment; and

(3)      the Council delegates to the Chief Executive the allocation of management responsibilities currently held by the Director of Finance and Commercial and carry out any consequential amendments as required to give effect to the distribution of those responsibilities.