The Appointments Committee of Southwark Council met on Thursday 18 June 2026. The primary item scheduled for discussion was the designation of a Monitoring Officer for the council.

Designation of a Monitoring Officer

The committee was scheduled to consider the designation of John Scarborough, the Interim Director of Law and Governance, as the council's Monitoring Officer. This role is a statutory requirement under the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, with responsibilities including intervening in cases of unlawful action or maladministration, and maintaining the standards regime for councillors. The Monitoring Officer also has constitutional responsibilities for decisions on legal proceedings, advising on the council's powers, and acting as the proper officer for Freedom of Information Act requests.

The report pack indicated that a previous meeting on 16 June 2026 had deferred this decision to allow for additional background information. The report provided context on the Chief Executive's decision in February 2026 to not retain the role of Assistant Chief Executive – Governance and Assurance, which was intended to reduce senior management costs and simplify the leadership structure for legal services. The Chief Executive was expected to attend the meeting to address any questions regarding this decision.

John Scarborough was described as an experienced Monitoring Officer, having previously held similar roles at the London Boroughs of Greenwich and Merton. His current interim role at Southwark Council includes responsibility for legal services and local democracy. The report noted that a permanent recruitment process for the Director of Law and Governance was underway, with interviews for shortlisted candidates scheduled for July 2026.

The report highlighted the importance of the Monitoring Officer in promoting public confidence by ensuring lawful decisions and maintaining the standards regime for councillors. It also outlined the council's duties under section 149 of the Equality Act 2010, which the Monitoring Officer would be responsible for promoting compliance with. The report stated there were no significant health, climate change, or direct financial implications arising from the proposals. The report was published on an urgent basis to fulfil legal obligations and ensure the Monitoring Officer could exercise their functions.

The committee was also scheduled to address standard procedural items, including apologies for absence, confirmation of voting members, notification of urgent business, and the disclosure of interests and dispensations. Additionally, the minutes of the open section of the Appointments Committee meeting held on 16 June 2026 were to be approved. The agenda also included a provision for the exclusion of press and public for items involving the likely disclosure of exempt information.