The Appointments Committee met on Monday 29 June 2026 to discuss the appointment of an Assistant Director for City Development. The meeting's agenda focused on the recruitment process for this senior role, including reviewing the relevant documentation and terms of reference for the appointment.

Appointment of Assistant Director - City Development

The primary item scheduled for discussion was the appointment of an Assistant Director for City Development. The report pack provided to attendees outlined the responsibilities and requirements for this significant role. The Assistant Director will be responsible for leading a new City Development Service within the Development and Growth Directorate. This service area encompasses a broad range of functions, including business development, inward investment, tourism, city centre management, economic policy, culture, sport, and leisure. The role also involves managing partnerships, securing external grants, and contributing to the Cardiff City Region and UK city partnerships.

The recruitment pack detailed the salary for the position as £100,993 per annum. It also highlighted the council's ambition to attract experienced and accomplished managers who can drive innovation and support the delivery of the council's policy agenda, aiming for a Stronger, Fairer, Greener Cardiff. The role requires strategic leadership, robust advice to Cabinet Members and Councillors, and effective management of people, financial, and capital resources. Key accountabilities include translating strategic commitments into operational plans, ensuring budgetary control, fostering partnerships, and implementing effective performance management systems.

The report pack also outlined the behavioural competencies expected of candidates, such as Putting Our Customers First, Getting Things Done, Taking Personal Responsibility, Seeking to Understand Others, Leading Change, Initiating Change and Improvement, Partnering and Corporate Working, Communicating, Analysing, Problem Solving and Decision Making, Equality & Diversity, and Optimising Resources. These competencies are assessed at various levels, with the role requiring a high degree of proficiency in many of these areas.

The terms and conditions of service were also detailed, including the permanent nature of the contract, adherence to the Joint Negotiating Committee for Chief Officers of Local Authorities, and provisions for performance appraisal, annual leave, hours of work, sick pay, and pension. The post is politically restricted, in accordance with the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.

The meeting agenda also included standard procedural items such as the election of a Chair, receiving apologies for absence, and declarations of interest. The committee's terms of reference were also to be reviewed, which involve discharging the authority's functions regarding the appointment and dismissal of Chief Officers and Deputy Chief Officers. A note indicated that some information related to the appointment discussion was not for publication due to its sensitive nature.