The Appointments Committee of Merton Council is scheduled to convene on Tuesday 28 July 2026, with a key item on the agenda being the appointment of senior officers. The meeting will also review the minutes of previous meetings.

Appointment of Senior Officers

A significant portion of the meeting is scheduled to be dedicated to the appointment of senior officers. The report pack outlines plans to discuss the salary packages for three key roles: Director of Public Health and Community Wellbeing, Director of Children's Social Care and Youth Inclusion, and Director of Governance and Civic Services.

For the Director of Public Health and Community Wellbeing, the committee is expected to consider recommendations for the salary package, which is proposed to be at grade MG5, with a salary range between £118,878 and £127,105 as of April 2026. The report also suggests the possibility of offering a market supplement of up to £25,000 per annum to attract suitable candidates with relevant expertise. This role is a statutory appointment, requiring joint action by the local authority and the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, and must adhere to the requirements of the Health and Social Care Act 2012¹. The recruitment process for this position will involve consultation with the Strategic Director of Integrated Social Care and Health, the Chair of the Appointments Committee, and the Regional Director of Public Health for London.

Similarly, the salary package for the Director of Children's Social Care and Youth Inclusion is scheduled for discussion, with a proposed grade of MG5, carrying a salary range of £118,878 to £127,105. The implementation of the recruitment process for this role is to be delegated to the Executive Director of Children and Families, in consultation with the Chair of the Appointments Committee.

The committee is also expected to consider commencing recruitment for the post of Director of Governance and Civic Services. This role includes the responsibilities of the Council's Monitoring Officer². A subcommittee of the Appointments Committee is proposed to be established to agree a shortlist of candidates and conduct the final interviews for this position.

The report pack details that recruitment consultants will be engaged for these roles, following the Council's procurement policies. The process will involve agreeing a longlist of candidates, preliminary interviews, psychometric profiling, and a series of panel interviews, including with the Chief Executive and key colleagues. The report highlights that these appointments are crucial for delivering the Council's priorities and ensuring the organisation remains financially secure, sustainable, and legally compliant.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting

The committee is scheduled to review the minutes from its previous meeting. The report pack indicates that the minutes of the meeting held on 29 January 2026 will be presented for agreement. These minutes detail discussions and recommendations made regarding the creation of new director roles, a confidential staffing matter, and the appointment of a statutory officer.