The General Purposes Committee of Greenwich Council met on Wednesday, 1 April 2026, to discuss and approve amendments to the procedure for appointing and managing Chief Officers and Deputy Chief Officers, and to agree the salary range for a new Assistant Director of Strategic Property Services.

Procedure for the Appointment and Management of Chief Officers and Deputy Chief Officers

The committee agreed to amendments to the Procedure for the Appointment and Management of Chief Officers and Deputy Chief Officers. These changes aim to ensure the recruitment process for senior leadership roles remains rigorous and effective, delivering value to the organisation. The amendments introduce greater flexibility in tailoring recruitment exercises to specific organisational needs, the nature of the role, and market conditions. They also provide clearer policy statements, improve clarity on which posts are eligible for member appointment, and allow for initial stages of recruitment to be assigned to officers for efficiency. Additionally, the revised procedure offers more clarity on the day-to-day management of Chief Officers. The rationale behind these changes is to enable the Council to compete more effectively in the market for senior talent while maintaining necessary oversight and control.

Chief Officer Recruitment - Assistant Director of Strategic Property Services

The committee agreed to the salary range for the newly created post of Assistant Director of Strategic Property Services within the Place and Growth Directorate. The agreed salary range is £108,409–£119,536, in accordance with the Council's Pay Policy Statement. This role is considered critical for driving regeneration in the borough, focusing on good growth, community wealth building, increasing housing supply, and overall regeneration efforts. The decision to agree this salary range will allow the Council to progress the recruitment process for this essential post, thereby avoiding the continued need for interim cover and ensuring the Council can deliver on its organisational aims. The Chief Executive has also been noted to have delegated authority to establish individual Appointment Panels for the appointment of Chief Officers, in consultation with Party Group Leaders.

Declarations of Interest

The committee noted the list of councillors' memberships on outside bodies, joint committees, and school governing bodies. Members were reminded of their obligation to orally declare any personal or financial interests in specific agenda items as they arise during discussions. The report provided a comprehensive list of these memberships, detailing the organisations and the roles councillors hold, such as Councillor Leo Fletcher's membership of the Blackheath Joint Working Party and the John Roan Foundation, and Councillor Averil Lekau's roles on the Eltham Crematorium Joint Committee and the London City Airport Consultative Committee. The report also outlined the definitions of personal and financial interests, and the procedures members must follow when declaring them, including when they must leave the meeting.