The Staffing Committee of Waltham Forest Council met on Wednesday 15 April 2026 to consider the appointment of a new Corporate Director of Community Safety and Public Protection. The meeting's agenda focused solely on this significant appointment, with detailed reports outlining the role and the process for selecting a candidate.

Chief Officer Appointment – Corporate Director of Community Safety and Public Protection

The primary item scheduled for discussion was the appointment of a new Chief Officer to the role of Corporate Director of Community Safety and Public Protection. This position is considered pivotal in driving the Council's mission to ensure safe and green neighbourhoods where everyone can thrive. The role involves leading a new combined directorate, bringing together statutory and discretionary services to ensure safe and secure neighbourhoods.

The responsibilities outlined for this role include direct oversight of strategies and operations for tackling anti-social behaviour, community safety, emergency and contingency planning, CCTV, private sector housing licensing, premises licensing, market trading, food safety, and trading standards. The Corporate Director is expected to implement and lead a new operating model for public safety grounded in resident engagement, data-led approaches, and influential local partnerships. This includes providing system leadership across the borough's statutory Community Safety Partnership, developing a robust community safety strategy, and ensuring strong tactical and operational tasking arrangements are in place.

The role profile details that the Corporate Director will manage a budget of £19 million, with responsibility for generating £7 million in income. They will directly manage senior management teams responsible for significant resources and operational service delivery, including Assistant Directors for Community Safety Programmes, Enforcement & Safety, Public Protection & Licensing, and Regulatory Services. The position requires significant senior strategic management experience, the ability to translate political priorities into strategic objectives, and a proven track record of delivery, service improvements, and value for money.

The Staffing Committee was recommended to interview and decide on an appointment for the post. The report pack indicated that financial provision for this post already exists within the Council's budget. The appointment process is to be conducted in accordance with the Council's Recruitment & Selection Policy and Procedure, with appointments made on merit as per the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) Regulations 2001.

The meeting was scheduled to consider candidates for this role, with appendices containing the role profile, candidate curriculum vitae, and interview questions. However, the candidate's curriculum vitae and interview questions were designated as exempt information and not publicly available. The report highlighted that community resilience, fear of crime, and anti-social behaviour are consistently top priorities for residents and political leadership, underscoring the importance of this appointment.