The Chief Officer Appointment Committee of Newham Council is scheduled to convene on Friday 19 June 2026. The agenda includes discussions regarding the appointment of two key senior roles within the council: the Director of Public Health and the Chief Executive and Head of Paid Services. The committee will also consider procedures for excluding the press and public from certain parts of the meeting.

Director of Public Health Appointment

A significant item on the agenda is the establishment of a Chief Officer Appointment Committee for the recruitment and appointment of a permanent Director of Public Health. This role is a statutory chief officer position, responsible for advising elected members and officers on all health matters, and leading across health improvement, health protection, and healthcare public health. The report pack indicates that the committee is being asked to agree the size and membership of a joint Chief Officer Appointment Sub-Committee and Appointments Advisory Committee. This joint committee will be responsible for re-interviewing candidates who were previously shortlisted for the Director of Public Health role in May 2026. A previous recruitment process for this position was halted due to a formal objection that was found to be well-founded. The report outlines the professional and managerial accountabilities of the Director of Public Health, including accountability to the Newham Health and Wellbeing Board, the Chief Executive, and the Secretary of State for Health. It also details the requirements for establishing an Appointments Advisory Committee, which typically includes representation from the Faculty of Public Health (FPH), Public Health England, and the NHS. The council will work closely with the FPH and Public Health England to assist with this appointment. The report also highlights the council's commitment to a fair and equitable recruitment process, in line with its Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policies and the Equality Act 2010, noting that Newham is one of the UK's most diverse areas.

Chief Executive and Head of Paid Services Appointment

The committee is also scheduled to discuss the establishment of a Chief Officer Appointment Committee for the recruitment and appointment to the permanent position of Chief Executive and Head of Paid Services. This role is crucial for providing corporate and strategic leadership, overseeing the delivery of the council's priorities, and ensuring the council operates lawfully and efficiently. The report indicates that the committee will be asked to agree to appoint themselves as the Sub-Committee to interview candidates and then recommend a permanent Chief Executive and Head of Paid Services to the full council. The current interim Chief Executive, Paul Martin, has been in post since July 2025. The recruitment process for the permanent role began in March 2026, with external recruitment agency Gatenby Sanderson appointed to support the process. The report details a comprehensive timetable for the recruitment, including longlisting, technical assessments, shortlisting, psychometric assessments, stakeholder panels, and final interviews scheduled for 19 June 2026. The role of Chief Executive is a statutory position, and the Head of Paid Services is a designation under the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. The successful candidate will also act as the Returning Officer for elections and the Electoral Registration Officer for the borough. The report also reiterates the council's commitment to diverse recruitment panels, as outlined in Appendix C of the report pack.

Exclusion of Press and Public

The agenda also includes an item concerning the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985, regarding the exclusion of press and public. This suggests that there may be discussions where confidential information is presented, necessitating the temporary exclusion of the press and public from the meeting. Appendix B of the reports pack is also marked as exempt information regarding candidates, further indicating that some discussions may be held in private.