Apologies for absence were received from Councillors C.A. Bayliss, P.C. Courtel and G.C. Curtis.

To receive any disclosure by Members of personal and disclosable pecuniary interests in matters on the agenda, the nature of any interest and whether the Member regards the personal interest as prejudicial under the terms of the Code of Conduct.  Members are reminded of the need to repeat their declaration immediately prior to the commencement of the item in question.

Declarations of interest were made in the Minutes as indicated below:

Mr Johnston       Agenda Item 3 – Personal and Prejudicial Interest as the Chief Executive Designate.

Members paid personal thanks and tributes to Dr Anthony Leonard for the significant contribution he had made to Rother District Council and the residents of the Rother district during his 27 years tenure at the Council.  Dr Leonard had been instrumental in delivering a number of key projects including amongst others the Joint Waste Partnership, the De La Warr Pavilion, Next Wave regeneration of the Bexhill-on-Sea promenade and Colonnade to name a few.  Members were grateful for his support and wisdom over the years and his knowledge and drive would be sorely missed.  Lastly, the Chairman thanked Dr Leonard on behalf of all past and present Chairmen who had relied on him for guidance and support.

At the full Council meeting on 21 September 2020, a new senior management structure was agreed with the deletion of the two Executive Director Posts and the establishment of a new post of Chief Executive.

It was also agreed that subject to being able to agree a mutually acceptable severance deal between the Council and one of the Executive Directors then the remaining Executive Director would become designate Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service from Monday 28 September when the new structure commenced.  A mutually acceptable severance deal had been agreed and signed between the Council and Dr Tony Leonard and Malcolm Johnston had therefore become the Chief Executive designate on 28 September 2020.

The appointment of Chief Executive was a full Council decision and it was therefore recommended that Malcolm Johnston be appointed to the post of Chief Executive and designated as the Head of Paid Service, Returning Officer and Electoral Registration Officer, for an initial period of one year with effect from Monday 28 September 2020.  It was noted that under the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) Regulations 1193 (SI No. 202) in relation to the appointment of the Head of Paid Service, none of the Executive Members of the Council had objected to the appointment.

It was moved by Councillor J. Barnes and duly seconded that the Motion be amended by the insertion of the following words:

“that the Council place on record its warm thanks to Dr Tony Leonard for his immense services to Rother; and”

(The Amendment to the Motion was taken with the substantive Motion).

It was moved by Councillor Field and duly seconded:

RESOLVED:  That the Council place on record its warm thanks to Dr Tony Leonard for his immense services to Rother; and that Malcolm Johnston be appointed to the post of Chief Executive and designated as Head of Paid Service, Returning Officer and Electoral Registration Officer, for an initial period of one year with effect from Monday 28 September 2020.

(Mr Johnston declared a personal and prejudicial interest in this matter as the Chief Executive Designate and left the remote meeting room during the consideration thereof).