Issue - meetings

To consider extending the appointment of Alwen Williams as the CJC’s part-time Chief Executive, on a temporary secondment basis, up to the end of March, 2024.

To extend the appointment of Alwen Williams as the North Wales Corporate Joint Committee's Interim Chief Executive, on a temporary secondment basis, until the end of March 2024.

The report was submitted by Geraint Owen, Cyngor Gwynedd.

Further to the content of the report, it was noted that the NWEAB had agreed at its meeting earlier that day to release Alwen Williams from her role for the period in question.

RESOLVED to extend the appointment of Alwen Williams as the North Wales Corporate Joint Committee's Interim Chief Executive, on a temporary secondment basis, until the end of March 2024.

DISCUSSION

It was asked whether the secondment meant that there was underspend on Alwen Williams' salary as Portfolio Director for the NWEAB. In response, it was explained that the amount transferred to the NWEAB for releasing Alwen Williams on a part-time basis created an underspend, but that this money was being used for another officer in the Portfolio Officer who was deputising for Alwen Williams for the two days that she worked for the Corporate Joint Committee.

The Leader of Flintshire Council expressed his concern that it appeared, therefore, that there was back-filling of the role in the NWEAB whilst the work of the Corporate Joint Committee was being fulfilled, and he added that he had no recollection of this ever being discussed in the NWEAB. In response, it was explained that part of the arrangement when the secondment was approved originally, was to give assurance to the NWEAB that there would be stepping up in terms of the role of the Portfolio Director in order to support the Growth Deal, and that this had been reported to the NWEAB at the time.

It was noted that the report referred to the fact that another item on the meeting agenda elaborated on the additional resource identified to support the Interim Chief Executive with the work of establishing the Corporate Joint Committee finally by 1 April 2024, but that no reference to this could be seen in the papers. In response, it was suggested that this was a question to ask the Interim Chief Executive after she returned to the meeting for the next item as it was she who had put this arrangement in place.

Following the vote on the item, the Leader of Flintshire Council noted that he wished to record that he had voted against the secondment as he had no recollection of a report being submitted to the NWEAB regarding who would be filling in for the Portfolio Director.

The Chair noted that the question could be put to the Interim Chief Executive after she returned to the meeting, and he asked the member whether he wished to continue to note his objection.

The Leader of Flintshire Council noted that he wished for his concern to be noted and that he was asking for a report to the NWEAB and to the Corporate Joint Committee explaining who was filling in in the NWEAB for the two days when the Portfolio Director was not available, and how and when that appointment/those appointments had been made.

Alwen Williams was called back to the meeting, and was asked to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8