The People, Performance and Development Committee Appointment Sub-Committee of Surrey Council met to discuss the appointment of a new Director of HR¹ and Organisational Development. The committee also considered the composition of interview panels for senior council positions.

Appointment of Director of HR and Organisational Development

The report pack for the meeting of the People, Performance and Development Committee Appointment Sub-Committee included a discussion of the appointment of a Director of HR and Organisational Development at Surrey Council.

The report pack stated that the Director of HR and Organisational Development is a key role in the council, and that the successful candidate would be responsible for:

• Leading the HR and Organisational Development function
• Developing and implementing the council’s people strategy
• Ensuring that the council has the right people, with the right skills, in the right place, at the right time
• Promoting a positive and inclusive culture
• Advising the council on all aspects of HR and Organisational Development

The report pack included a proposed interview process for the role, including the composition of the interview panel.

Composition of Interview Panels

The report pack included a discussion of the composition of interview panels for senior council positions.

The report pack stated that it is important to ensure that interview panels are diverse and representative of the communities that the council serves.

The report pack recommended that interview panels should include:

• A councillor
• A senior officer
• A representative from HR
• An independent advisor

The report pack stated that the independent advisor should be someone with experience of the role being interviewed for, and that they should be able to provide an objective assessment of the candidates.

The report pack also recommended that interview panels should be trained on equality and diversity issues, and that they should be aware of the council’s policies on recruitment and selection.