The Chief Officers Employment Committee of Cornwall Council met on Wednesday 23 April 2025 to discuss senior leadership arrangements and the year-end appraisal of the Chief Executive. The committee was also scheduled to move into a closed session to discuss confidential matters.

Senior Leadership Team Arrangements

The committee was scheduled to discuss a report regarding senior leadership team arrangements, specifically the recruitment to the new role of Strategic Director - Community Wellbeing, and endorse resulting changes to existing Strategic Director portfolios.

According to the report, the current postholder of Strategic Director Neighbourhoods is due to leave the council in July 2025, which provides an opportunity to consider the balance of responsibilities across the five council directorates.

The report stated that the Strategic Director for Community Wellbeing will be part of the senior leadership team, and that it is intended that this role also holds the statutory responsibility of the Director of Public Health. The Faculty of Public Health will be engaged at every step of the recruitment process in line with their statutory role.

The report also noted that engagement has taken place with tiers 1-4 of the council’s leadership community, with relevant Trade Unions, the Faculty of Public Health, and the Local Government Association (LGA).

The selection process for the Strategic Director for Community Wellbeing is scheduled to be led by the Chief People Officer, Marie Kerr, and supported by an external recruitment partner. The report stated that any appointment to the statutory responsibilities of the Director of Public Health must also be overseen by the rules set out in the Health and Social Care Act 2012.

The report stated that the Strategic Director for Community Wellbeing will be renumerated in line with the council’s existing pay policy, with the role intended to be graded at Grade 8, which is within the pay band £131,207 - £166,434, and funded from the existing pay budget for Strategic Directors.

Year-end Appraisal of the Chief Executive

The committee was scheduled to discuss the year-end appraisal of the Chief Executive, Kate Kennally, for the period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025.

According to the report, in accordance with the council’s constitution, the Leader of the Council, Councillor Linda Taylor, is responsible for conducting the appraisal of the Chief Executive and for reporting to the committee on this. The council’s appraisal scheme has two stages: the year end/planning stage during April and May, and the ‘Mid-Year’ Review Stage during October.

The report stated that an external facilitator has been appointed to support the annual appraisal process, and that the external facilitator met with Group Leaders as part of their contribution to the final report.

The report also stated that it provides assurance that there are effective arrangements in place for the appraisal of the Chief Executive and that there is transparency of those arrangements, subject to the requirements of the Data Protection Act in respect of the handling of sensitive personal information.

Exclusion of the Press and Public

The committee was asked to consider a resolution to exclude the press and public from the meeting for specific items. This was scheduled because there was likely to be a disclosure to the public of exempt information, including:

• Information relating to an individual
• Information which is likely to reveal the identity of an individual