The Appointment Sub-Committee of Tower Hamlets Council reconvened on Friday 28 August 2026 to continue interviews for the crucial role of Corporate Director of Resources. The meeting's substantive business was confidential, meaning the public could not attend the discussions.

Interviews for Corporate Director of Resources

The primary focus of the meeting was to conduct further interviews for the position of Corporate Director of Resources. This role is essential for the council's financial duties and plays a significant part in its continuous improvement journey, including accountability for responding to external auditors' recommendations. The position was advertised in June 2026, with a closing date of 24 July 2026. A longlist of candidates was considered, and three were progressed to technical interviews. Following these, all three were recommended for shortlisting by the Appointment Sub-Committee on 4 August 2026.

The final interviews were initially scheduled for 13 August 2026, but due to limited candidate availability, the meeting was adjourned after the first interview. The sub-committee was reconvened on 28 August 2026 to interview the remaining two shortlisted candidates. The report pack included an interview report from the executive search agency, Penna, detailing the shortlisted candidates.

The Appointment Sub-Committee was recommended to consider the report from Penna, interview and assess each candidate according to council policies, and determine which candidates met the required benchmark. If more than one candidate was deemed appointable, the sub-committee was to decide which candidate should be offered the post. Following this determination, the Executive would have 48 hours to provide comments on the proposed appointment, with any objections to be considered further before a formal offer was made. The Director of HR&OD or their delegate would then undertake the necessary recruitment processes.

The report highlighted that appointing to this role on a permanent basis represents improved value for money compared to agency engagement and provides greater leadership stability, positively impacting risk management and performance delivery. The role is a statutory requirement, with Section 112 of the Local Government Act 1972 requiring the council to appoint necessary officers, and Section 7 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 stipulating appointments must be on merit. The council's Constitution and Officer Employment Procedure Rules govern these appointments, requiring the Appointment Sub-Committee to include at least one member of the Executive and be politically proportionate. As the Corporate Director of Resources holds the statutory position of the council's s151 officer¹, the council is responsible for confirming the appointment. The process must also comply with the Equality Act 2010².