The Appointments Sub Committee of Havering Council met on Tuesday 6 January 2026. The primary item scheduled for discussion was the appointment to the post of Assistant Director - Public Realm.

Appointment to the Post of Assistant Director - Public Realm

The meeting was scheduled to consider the appointment to the significant role of Assistant Director - Public Realm. The report detailing this appointment was attached to the agenda but was not made available to the press or the public. Zena Smith, Head of Committee and Election Services, was associated with this report. The report was classified as restricted information under paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, meaning that its contents were not to be disclosed to the public. This classification suggests that the discussion and decision-making process for this appointment were considered to involve sensitive or confidential information.

The agenda also included standard procedural items such as the Chair's announcement, apologies for absence, and the disclosure of interests. A significant portion of the agenda was dedicated to considering the exclusion of the public from the meeting. This was to be done on the grounds that the nature of the business to be transacted was likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information, as defined by the Local Government Act 1972. The Sub-Committee was to resolve whether to exclude the public based on a motion from the Chair.

The attendees at the meeting were Councillor Ray Morgon (Leader of the Council), Councillor Gillian Ford (Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Adults and Wellbeing), Councillor Keith Darvill (Leader of the Labour Group), Councillor Viddy Persaud, Neil Stubbings, and Bernadette Lynch. Councillor Ray Morgon was scheduled to chair the meeting, with Councillor Gillian Ford serving as Vice-Chair. Bernadette Lynch was the contact person for information regarding the meeting.