The Isle of Wight council’s Employment Committee met this morning to decide the future contractual status for the post of Strategic Director of Resources, currently held by Dave Burbage.
It may have been one of the shortest meetings on record, lasting, we’re told, just 14 minutes.
The committee, made up of Cllrs Bacon (for Gilbey), Blezzard (Chairman), Gauntlett, Hutchinson and Stephens voted unanimously to adopt the recommended changes in the report prepared by the Head of Human Resources.
Contract runs until end of July
If the Cabinet also approve the decision, the post held by Dave Burbage which he is currently paid through his limited company for, will change to PAYE with a contract of employment.
Dave Burbage’s current contract runs out 31 July 2013.
All change
Under the new Independent-led council, the recommendations approved were
Option 1: Agree to put in place a change in contractual status for the Strategic Director of Resources post holder from that of a contract for services to that of a contract of employment, subject to confirmation in accordance with the Council’s Constitution, from Cabinet Members that there is no objection.
Option 3: Agree the proposed remuneration package for the post of Strategic Director of Resources.
Option 5: Agree the proposed job description, job title and remuneration for the additional duties of the Head of Paid Service
Option 7: Recommend to Full Council that the Strategic Director of Resources continues in the acting Capacity of Head of Paid Service until 1 April 2014 together with the Head of Financial Management continuing in the acting capacity as Section 151 Officer for the same period.
Dave Burbage Ltd
Readers will remember that the news Dave Burbage was being paid through a limited company broke through OnTheWight back in 2011 and was followed up in Private Eye and other media.
At the time there was a great deal of media attention surrounding public sector workers being paid through private limited companies.
In February 2012, former Chief Executive, Steve Beynon, defended Mr Burbage’s pay arrangements, saying
“The arrangement has been reviewed several times and on each occasion has been found to provide exceptional value to the council tax payer.”
The reports
For more detail see the paper embedded below for your convenience.
Image: Caitlin Childs under CC BY 2.0
