The Chief Officer Appointment Committee of Newham Council met on Tuesday 7 April 2026 to establish a sub-committee for the appointment of a Director of Young People and Opportunities. The committee agreed on the membership of this sub-committee, which will be responsible for the recruitment process.

Establishment of a Chief Officer Appointment Sub-Committee

The committee agreed to establish an Appointment Sub-Committee to recruit for the newly created role of Director of Young People and Opportunities. This role is part of a review of the council's management hierarchy aimed at strengthening the senior leadership within Children and Young People Services. The Director will oversee a portfolio including targeted youth support, youth justice, NEET reduction, and post-16 education, aligning with the council's corporate priorities such as early help, education partnerships, community cohesion, safeguarding, and Youth Safety.

The report presented to the committee outlined the need for a formal recruitment process for this senior position. It also noted that due to a separate review and restructure of the Tier 4 management hierarchy within Children and Young People Services, some staff were at risk of displacement. Consequently, an internal recruitment process would be prioritised to give affected employees consideration.

The committee was informed that two officers had been placed at risk of redundancy, with one deciding not to apply for the new role. The other officer would be applying on a ringfenced basis. The interview for the Director of Young People and Opportunities was scheduled to take place on 16 April 2026.

Decision: The Chief Officer Appointment Committee agreed to appoint the following members to the Chief Officer Appointment Sub-Committee for the post of Director of Young People and Opportunities: Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz (Chair), Councillor Sarah Ruiz, Councillor Amar Virdee, and Councillor Shaban Mohammed.

Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz OBE, who is also the Mayor of Newham, declared an interest in the role as it covered areas within her portfolio responsibilities. Councillor Sarah Ruiz declared an interest as she chairs the Youth Safety Board, and the role also encompassed this area of work.

The meeting was held in accordance with the Council's Constitution and Officer Employment Procedure Rules, and all appointments will comply with general employment legislation and the council's recruitment policy. The recruitment process will also adhere to the council's Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policies and the Equality Act 2010, with a focus on ensuring a fair and equitable process for all candidates. The council's commitment to being a child-friendly borough and its Building a Fairer Newham Corporate Plan were highlighted as guiding principles for this appointment. The report also referenced the council's guidance on Diverse Recruitment Panels¹, which aims to ensure that recruitment panels are representative and reduce unconscious bias.