The Top Management Review Panel was scheduled to meet on Thursday 23 April 2026 to review the performance of the Corporate Leadership Team for the appraisal year 2025/26. The meeting's agenda included a review of staff appraisal documentation and high-performance indicators.

Conduct of Business and Outline of Process

The Panel was scheduled to consider the performance of the Chief Executive and Directors of Adult Social Care & Health, Children's Services, and Finance & Corporate Services against their objectives for the 2025/26 appraisal year. The report pack indicated that the Director of Place would be leaving the Council on 7 May 2026, and their appraisal documentation would therefore contain a reflective summary of their performance over the past year rather than an assessment against specific objectives.

The meeting was also scheduled to discuss the Council's revised Performance, Wellbeing and Development Scheme, which was adopted in July 2021 and applies to the Corporate Leadership Team. A review of this scheme was underway with the aim of implementing a new appraisal process in April 2027. The report pack outlined the criteria for assessing performance, including progress against key objectives, assessment of behaviour and attitude, and assessment of compliance with procedural and legislative requirements. These elements were to be rated on a scale, with a rating of 3 or 4 potentially resulting in an increment being awarded to those members of the Corporate Leadership Team not at the top spinal point of their grade. The report pack also detailed the proposed Directorate and Corporate objectives for the Corporate Leadership Team for 2026/27.

The report pack included Appendix 1, detailing the High Performance Indicators, and Appendix 2, which contained the appraisal documentation for the Corporate Leadership Team. It was noted that Appendix 2 was exempt from publication due to containing information relating to individuals' performance and potential pay awards, falling under Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972. The Panel was recommended to exclude the press and public from the meeting during the consideration of this item.

The report pack also provided guidance on declarations of interests, outlining the definitions of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests and Other Significant Interests, and the actions members should take if they have an interest to declare. This guidance is relevant to all councillors of the London Borough of Bexley¹ and any co-opted members of a Committee who are not councillors.