§ Mr. Laurence RobertsonTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether cabinets of local authorities have responsibilities for staffing matters; and if he will make a statement. [116135]
§ Mr. RaynsfordThe legislation provides that local authority cabinets cannot be responsible for the appointment and dismissal of staff. A cabinet's views must, however, be taken into account when senior staff are being appointed or dismissed. No offer of appointment of the head of paid service, a chief officer, or deputy chief officer may be made where the executive leader or elected mayor has made a well founded and material objection.
Cabinet members may be involved in staffing matters relating to assistants to political groups appointed under Section 9 of the Local Government Act 1989. Regulations also provide for a directly elected mayor to appoint an assistant.