The Audit and Corporate Governance (Appointment Panel) Sub-Committee of Camden Council was scheduled to convene on Monday, 13 April 2026. The primary focus of the meeting was the final stages of the recruitment process for the Director of Economy, Regeneration and Investment. The meeting also included standard procedural items.

Director of Economy, Regeneration and Investment - Final Member Panel

The most significant item on the agenda was the final member panel for the appointment of the Director of Economy, Regeneration and Investment. The report prepared for the sub-committee provided background information on the recruitment process and the practices involved in appointing candidates to Chief Officer positions. Members were asked to carefully consider the advice within the report. The report outlined the process, which included advertising the role, longlisting, technical interviews, and a shortlisting meeting held on 9 March 2026, where five candidates were recommended to progress to an assessment centre. The sub-committee was scheduled to interview candidates and, if deemed appropriate, recommend an offer of appointment, subject to Cabinet approval, reference checks, and medical assessments. The report also detailed the role profile for the Director of Economy, Regeneration and Investment, which involves providing strategic leadership for the borough's sustainability, inclusive economy, regeneration, and investment strategies, as well as overseeing the planning service, housing companies, and arts, culture, and events. The report highlighted Camden Council's commitment to diversity and inclusion, its status as a Timewise council, and the requirement for all panel members to have received equalities and unconscious bias training.

The report recommended that the sub-committee:

• Note the process for appointment to the post of Director Economy, Regeneration & Investment.
• Note the job details for this post and the progress made to date.
• Interview candidates and, if appropriate, recommend an offer of appointment, subject to there being no well-founded objections by Members of the Cabinet.

The applications of the individual candidates were to be supplied to members on a strictly confidential basis and were exempt from public disclosure under Paragraph 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, relating to information about any individual.

Procedural Items

The meeting was scheduled to begin with the election of a Chair for the duration of the meeting. This was to be followed by the noting of apologies and declarations of interest. The agenda also included provisions for deputations, announcements, and notification of any urgent items of business. The minutes of previous meetings held on 9 March 2026 were also scheduled for approval.

A significant portion of the meeting was anticipated to be held in private, with the press and public excluded, to consider exempt information under Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972. This was specifically in relation to Agenda Item 9, concerning the Director of Economy, Regeneration and Investment, as its discussion would likely involve the disclosure of information that could reveal the identity of individuals. The proposed resolution to exclude the public stated that publicity would be likely to lead to the disclosure of information relating to any individual.

The meeting also included an item for Any Other Business that the Chair considered urgent and exempt within the meaning of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.