The Human Resources Committee of Tower Hamlets Council was scheduled to meet on Wednesday, 20 May 2026, to discuss updates on senior recruitment, and to review the terms of reference for its sub-committees. The meeting's agenda also included provisions for excluding the press and public from certain discussions.

Update on Senior Recruitment

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the interim arrangements for senior posts, specifically Chief Officer and Deputy Chief Officer positions. This included a recommendation to approve the extension of these interim arrangements beyond a six-month period, where the original appointment was made at the discretion of the Chief Executive. The report highlighted that Amy Jackson, Interim Director of Tackling Inequality and Engagement, and Hemanth Shanthigrama, Interim Director of IT, had been in their roles on an interim basis. Their interim appointments expired on 31 March 2026, and approval was being sought to extend these arrangements to allow for the findings of an organisational efficiency review to be considered and implemented. The report noted that allowing employees to act up into positions offers them opportunities to gain experience and skills, supporting their development needs, which is a priority for the Council.

Appointment Sub-Committee Terms of Reference 2026/27

The committee was scheduled to review and approve the procedures, terms of reference, quorum, and membership for the Appointment Sub-Committee for the Municipal Year 2026/27. This sub-committee is established to make appointments to Chief Officer and Deputy Chief Officer posts in accordance with the Council's Constitution and agreed recruitment and selection procedures. The report outlined that the membership for appointing a Chief Officer or Deputy Chief Officer would comprise five councillors, with nominations from the Leader of the majority group and the Leaders of the Green and Labour Groups. It was also noted that members can only sit on the sub-committee if they have received relevant training on recruitment and selection. The quorum for this sub-committee was set at a minimum of three members.

Employee Appeal Sub-Committee Terms of Reference 2026/27

The Human Resources Committee was also scheduled to review and agree the terms of reference and quorum for the Employee Appeals Sub-Committee for the Municipal Year 2026/27. This ad-hoc sub-committee is convened to determine appeals by employees under human resources procedures that require a member-level decision, such as appeals against dismissal. The report indicated that a panel of three members would be appointed on an ad-hoc basis for each appeal from a pool of all members and substitutes of the Human Resources Committee. The terms of reference and hearing structure for these appeals were to be presented for agreement. The quorum for this sub-committee was also set at three members.