The short listing process for the new CEO was administered by recruitment specialists Gatenby Sanderson [see earlier story] and it appears that there was not unanimous agreement among the 6 cross-party selection panel members over their recommendations for candidates to go forward to interview.

A press release was issued by the local authority saying that the “recommended shortlist of candidates was agreed by the interview panel” but some members took exception to the inference that they had all actually agreed.

Cllr. Kitcat’s argument expressed in his personal blog is that it was agreed by the process employed by the panel which allows for individual disagreement but confers collective agreement once a decision has been made. The panel consists of three Green Party councillors, two Conservatives and one Labour with Cllr. Kitcat having a casting vote in the event of a tie.

The situation was inflamed somewhat with statements in the Argus and a subsequent debate on Twitter between Cllr Kitcat and Lord Bassam of Brighton.

The interviews for the post are scheduled for 3rd October and in his personal blog Cllr Kitcat says, “This week we will be interviewing shortlisted candidates for council chief executive. My hope and aim is to find cross-party consensus on a candidate to bring to full council for approval. To do that successfully all parties are going to have to work together, trust the process and put the interests of our great city first and foremost.”

See later story on the appointment of the new Chief Executive.