The Employment Committee of Hertfordshire Council met on Wednesday 01 July 2026 to discuss the interim appointment of a Section 151 Officer. The committee considered a report on the need to appoint an interim Section 151 Officer due to the current officer, Stephen Pillsworth, taking a career break between August 2026 and March 2027. The Section 151 Officer is a statutory role responsible for ensuring the proper financial administration of the council, safeguarding its financial position, and maintaining public confidence.

Appointment of Interim Section 151 Officer

The council has engaged the services of Penna, a recruitment agency, to find a suitable candidate. Discussions have also taken place with the Deputy Chief Finance Officer, Scott Crudgington, to explore his capacity to undertake some of the role's responsibilities as a development opportunity.

Concerns were raised by Councillor Ian Albert about the exclusion of certain areas of responsibility from the public part of the report. It was noted that the majority of this information could be published online.

A contingency plan was discussed should no suitable candidate be found. In such a scenario, Scott Crudgington, as a qualified accountant, would be able to assume the responsibilities of the Section 151 Officer. The Chief Executive, Angie, clarified that this would involve redistributing responsibilities within the executive team and potentially bringing in additional support for the finance team.

The committee approved delegating authority to the Deputy Chief Executive and Executive Director of Resources to manage the recruitment process. It was noted that the final interview process would include elected members, as agreed by the Employment Committee, and that any appointment would be subject to prior consultation with group leaders and approval by full council on 21 July 2026.