The Employment and Staffing Committee of Wokingham Council was scheduled to meet on Friday 17 April 2026. The primary item on the agenda was the recruitment of a Service Director for the Environment department.

Recruitment of Service Director for Environment

The committee was scheduled to discuss the recruitment process for a new Service Director for the Environment department. This role is crucial for overseeing the council's environmental initiatives and ensuring the delivery of services aligned with the council's mission to foster a thriving borough. The recruitment of this senior position is likely to be a key factor in the council's ability to achieve its objectives related to sustainability, climate action, and the provision of green spaces. The report pack indicated that this item would involve the likely disclosure of exempt information, suggesting that details of the recruitment process and potential candidates would be discussed in private.

The meeting was scheduled to take place at the Civic Offices, Shute End, Wokingham RG40 1BN. The committee members present were Councillor Rachel Bishop-Firth (Chair), Councillor Prue Bray (Vice-Chair), Councillor Stephen Conway, Councillor Pauline Jorgensen, Councillor Rebecca Margetts, Councillor Yusra Salman, and Councillor Lou Timlin. Madeleine Shopland, Democratic & Electoral Services Specialist, was listed as the contact officer for the meeting.

The council's mission, as outlined in the published documents, is to work with and for its communities to ensure everyone has the opportunity to thrive, focusing on being FAIR, GREEN, SAFE, and CONNECTED. The recruitment of a Service Director for Environment directly supports the GREEN objective, which aims to ensure clean, sustainable surroundings and a reduced carbon footprint. This aligns with the council's commitment to delivering the Climate Emergency Action Plan (CEAP) and improving energy efficiency.