Special Meeting, 10 July 2024
Date: Wednesday, 10 July 2024 at 3:30PM
Location: Noosa Shire Council Chambers , 9 Pelican Street , Tewantin , QLD 4565 , Australia
Organiser: Noosa Shire Council
Duration: 00:07:10
Synopsis: Unanimous CEO appointment with Mayor delegated to sign contract, Candidate withheld until signing for probity, Robust recruitment and checks, Closed session reopened, Remote attendance approved.
Meeting Attendees
Councillors
Brian Stockwell Karen Finzel Amelia Lorentson Tom Wegener Frank Wilkie Jessica Phillips Nicola Wilson Executive Officers
Director Community Services Kerri Contini Director Corporate Services Trent Grauf Acting Chief Executive Officer Larry Sengstock Director Strategy And Environment Kim Rawlings Director Development & Regulation Richard MacGillivray Meeting Insight
Key Decisions & Discussions Brian Stockwell moved, and Council unanimously approved, remote attendance for Frank Wilkie under s254K Local Government Regulation 2012 (00:00; Attendance & Resolution to allow Teams attendance). Brian Stockwell led closure of the meeting to the public under s254J(3)(a) to discuss CEO appointment; carried unanimously (04:35; Closure of the Meeting to the Public). Meeting was reopened and proceeded to the CEO appointment item (post-closed session; Re-Opening of the Meeting to the Public). Frank Wilkie moved, seconded by Amelia Lorentson , to appoint the preferred candidate as CEO under s194(1) Local Government Act 2009; carried unanimously (03:35–04:05; Item 2.1 Appointment of the CEO). Council delegated authority to the Mayor to finalise and execute the CEO employment contract, and to publicly release the appointee’s name, qualifications, and experience once executed (Item 2.1). Brian Stockwell clarified the CEO’s role: strategic leadership and implementation of Council policy; emphasized gravity of decision and alignment on desired candidate profile (02:00–03:26; Item 2.1 context). Jacqui Campbell (Manager, People & Culture) outlined a robust recruitment: external recruiter “UNU,” multi-stage process, three finalists, favourable background checks, and readiness to appoint (00:59–02:00; Item 2.1 report noted). Amelia Lorentson sought contract clarifications, prompting entry into closed session due to confidential attachments (04:08–04:35; Closure to the Public). Thanks recorded to councillors, People & Culture, the recruitment consultant “born and bred Noosan,” and external advisor, former CEO Michael Govan, for input to a strong candidate field (post-closed session remarks; Item 2.1). Attendance included directors and executives per minutes, with Kerri Contini acting as CEO for the meeting; session closed circa 3:50 pm (Meeting closure time aligns with 3:51 pm in minutes). Contentious / Transparency Matters Name of the preferred candidate intentionally withheld until contract execution to protect confidentiality and probity; Council explicitly flagged this to the public (02:00–02:20; Item 2.1 resolution C). Closed session was narrowly framed to CEO appointment matters under s254J(3)(a), and the meeting was promptly reopened for resolution, supporting transparency of decision-making (04:35; Closure/Re-opening entries). Live-stream indication “We’re live?” on resumption evidences restoration of public access after confidential discussion (post-closed session; Re-Opening entry). Legal / Risk Remote attendance approval complied with s254K; unanimity and recorded resolution mitigate procedural challenge risk (00:00–00:36; Attendance resolution). Use of closed session for CEO appointment aligns with s254J(3)(a); explicit reference to the statutory ground limits vulnerability to unlawful closure claims (04:35; Closure of the Meeting to the Public). Appointment under s194(1) LGA 2009 is on-point; delegation to the Mayor to execute the contract is lawful and customary, provided terms mirror Council’s resolved intent (Item 2.1). Deferring public identification until contract execution manages privacy, employment, and reputational risks; resolution C authorises targeted disclosure post-signing (Item 2.1). Recruitment probity strengthened by external recruiter, external adviser (former CEO), multi-round interviews, unanimous Councillor support, and favourable background checks, reducing grounds for an administrative review (00:59–02:00; Item 2.1). Community Transparency Commitment to publish the CEO’s name, qualifications, and experience once contract is executed provides clarity on capability while respecting process confidentiality (Item 2.1 C). Minutes record attendance of key executives (e.g., Kerri Contini as Acting CEO for the meeting), aiding accountability for advice provided during the process (Attendance section).
Official Meeting Minutes
MINUTES Special Meeting Wednesday, 10 July 2024 3:30 PM Council Chambers, 9 Pelican Street, Tewantin Crs Frank Wilkie (Chair), Karen Finzel, Amelia Lorentson, Jessica Phillips, Brian Stockwell, Tom Wegener, Nicola Wilson “Noosa Shire – different by nature” SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES 10 JULY 2024 1. ATTENDANCE & APOLOGIES COUNCILLORS Cr Brian Stockwell (Acting Mayor & Chair) Cr Karen Finzel Cr Amelia Lorentson Cr Tom Wegener Cr Frank Wilkie (via Microsoft Teams) Cr Jessica Phillips Cr Nicola Wilson EXECUTIVE Director Community Services Kerri Contini (as Acting CEO for this meeting) Director Corporate Services Trent Grauf Acting Chief Executive Officer Larry Sengstock Director Strategy and Environment Kim Rawlings Director Development & Regulation Richard MacGillivray Council Resolution Moved: Cr Brian Stockwell Seconded: Cr Amelia Lorentson That in accordance with Section 254K of the Local Government Regulation, Cr Wilkie is approved to attend the Special Meeting dated 10 July 2024 via Microsoft Teams. Carried unanimously. 2. SPECIAL MEETING REPORTS CLOSURE OF THE MEETING TO THE PUBLIC Council Resolution Moved: Cr Brian Stockwell Seconded: Cr Tom Wegener That the meeting be closed in accordance with Section 254J (3) of the Local Government Regulation 2012, which permits the meeting to be closed to the public for business relating to the following: (a) the appointment, discipline or dismissal of the Chief Executive Officer; Carried unanimously. RE-OPENING OF THE MEETING TO THE PUBLIC Council Resolution Moved: Cr Brian Stockwell Seconded: Cr Jessica Phillips That the meeting be re-opened to the public. Carried unanimously. SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES 10 JULY 2024 2.1. APPOINTMENT OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER - NOOSA COUNCIL Council Resolution Moved: Cr Frank Wilkie Seconded: Cr Amelia Lorentson That Council note the report by the Manager, People and Culture to the Special Meeting dated 10 July 2024 and; A. Approve the appointment of the preferred candidate as the Chief Executive Officer Noosa Council under section 194 (1) of the Local Government Act 2009. B. Delegate authority to the Mayor to finalise and execute on behalf of Council, the proposed contract of employment associated with the appointment referred to in Item A. above; C. Authorise the Mayor to make public, the name, qualifications and experience of the appointee to the position of Chief Executive Officer of the Noosa Council, once the contract of employment has been executed by all parties. Carried unanimously. 3. CONFIDENTIAL SESSION Nil 4. MEETING CLOSURE The meeting closed at 3.51 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Brian Stockwell 00:00.361
We also reflect on our role as custodians of the place to honour what they did so well for thousands of years. So we have a motion to consider to approve Council would be to attend via teleconference. So that motion, and I'll move it, that in accordance with section 254 of the Local Government Regulation, Councillor Wilkie is approved to attend the meeting dated the 10th of July 2020. Via Microsoft Teams. Amelia Lorentson 00:34.427
I'm happy to see that. Brian Stockwell 00:37.050
I don't think we need any discussion. All in favour? That would be unanimous. Welcome Councillor Wilkie. Thank you. Due to the difficulties of trying to Chair a meeting via Teams, I'll remain in the so we have with us the a manager people of and culture, Jackie Campbell. Jackie, would you like to give us an overview of the report in front of us? Jackie Campbell 00:59.558
Yes, certainly. I'll speak to the report with regards to the process. As you said, it was a very extensive and thorough process, which consisted of appointing you and you. An external recruitment firm, to help us in finding a suitable candidate. That then led to a short list of highly esteemed candidates, who we then took-round interviews, which then resulted in taking three candidates to final-round interview. That delivered a preferred candidate for Council, which we performed background checks on, which were all favourable. And are at a position now where we are ready to make an offer and appoint a CEO. Thank you. Brian Stockwell 02:01.632
And just to remind Councillors and any of those people listening in the audience or online, we won't be announcing the name of the preferred candidate at this meeting. There is still one more step to go before that becomes public information. It cancels. So Councillors, we have in front of us a recommendation and it is one of the more serious decisions we will make in this term and it's probably important just to reflect on the purpose of the Chief Executive Officer and that is to provide strategic leadership to council's organisation and it really is, while we may be responsible for making decisions about setting policies, the CEO is the one responsible for implementing them and the decisions are about Council and overall management of the organisation. So, in the process that you've all been involved with, I think we've been very clear in terms of the sort of candidate that we're looking for and I think today we have the administrative process of. Making formal decision based on what we. An agreement we came up to with the second selection panel that we all sat on. Would someone like to move the recommendation? Amelia Lorentson 03:26.503
I'm happy to move the. If happy. I'm happy to. Brian Stockwell 03:34.339
For Frank to move. If you're happy, we'll move Councillor Wilkie and secondly, Councillor Lorentson. Councillor Wilkie, would you like to talk to the recommendation? Frank Wilkie 03:45.258
I need to say that I thank the People & Culture Manager for helping us with this process and also all my fellow Councillors who took part in the recruitment process as well in helping to achieve. Them to achieve a unanimous decision on the preferred candidate. Thank you. Thank you. Brian Stockwell 04:06.159
Would anyone else like to speak for motion? Amelia Lorentson 04:09.379
I have some questions that I'd like to ask. In terms of the preferred candidate's employment contract, Jackie. Brian Stockwell 04:18.871
Just before you do, if the question relates to any information that's in confidential attachment 2 or 3, we would need to go into closed session to answer it. Amelia Lorentson 04:31.203
They possibly will so my good so I'm happy attachment 2 or 3, we would need to go into closed session. If the question relates to any information that's in confidential attachment 2 or 3, Brian Stockwell 04:49.163
That the meeting be closed in accordance with section 254J3 of the local government regulations. 2012 which permits the meeting to be closed to publish the business relating to the following: A. The appointment, discipline or dismissal of the Chief Executive Officer. We have a seconder. Councillor Wegener has seconded. I can't believe there's any need for debate. All those in favour? Yes. Unidentified Speaker 05:21.200
Do we turn it on? We're live? Okay. Brian Stockwell 05:29.680
Welcome back. The questions have now been answered. Would anyone else wish to talk to the motion? We've had it moved and seconded. I'll talk to the motion and just say, similar to the Mayor, thank all those involved in the selection process, which includes fellow Councillors, to Jackie, the HR Manager, to our consultant, who was a born and bred luton. Noosa. And also, we had an external advisor who was very experienced, he might have gone down as the previous CEO. They all added considerably to the decision making process. We were fortunate to have a strong field who got the interview process with some interesting very characters and a very good CV. The preferred candidate didn't, uh, be very pleased that they, came out on top because it was, a very strong field. Anyone else wish to talk? Uh, Councillor Wilkie, would you like to close? No, thank you. Okay, so I'll put the recommendation as the motion. All in favour? Aye that's carried unanimously. That being the end of business, we will close the meeting at 3:51. Well done. Related Noosa Council Meetings
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