The Appointments Committee - Director - Adult, Housing & Communities was scheduled to consider the shortlisting of candidates for the significant role of Director – Adult, Housing & Communities. The meeting's agenda also included standard procedural items.

Appointment of Director - Adult, Housing & Communities

The Appointments Committee was scheduled to consider the shortlisting of candidates for the position of Director – Adult, Housing & Communities. This role is a permanent appointment with a salary of £152,392 per annum. The primary purpose of the role was described as providing strategic analysis and robust advice to the Cabinet, Scrutiny Committees, and the Council regarding the best options and methods to deliver relevant aspects of the Council's Corporate Plan. The Director was also to ensure the effective and efficient implementation of the Cabinet's strategic choices, with a focus on achieving continually improving outcomes in Adult, Housing, and Community Services.

The responsibilities of the Director were extensive, encompassing Hubs and Community Services, Advice and Benefits, Adult Social Services, Adult Safeguarding, Independent Living and Preventative Services, Telecare, Housing Services for 15,100 Council homes, and Homelessness and Specialist Housing. The role also involved a wide range of partnership and cross-sector working to deliver more integrated, person-centred services, and a client role for the Council's Housing Development programme.

The recruitment pack outlined key accountabilities, including optimising the use of Council resources through risk-managed partnerships, collaborations, and commercial initiatives. The Director was expected to provide accurate advice on efficiencies or investments in Adults, Housing, and Communities Services, assess the strategic impact of shifting service demands in a diverse urban context against financial pressures, and advise on innovative responses. Leading a management team, promoting a culture aligned with the Stronger, Fairer, Greener vision, and scanning the external context to advise on emerging changes, challenges, and opportunities were also key aspects of the role.

The selection process was scheduled to involve an Assessment Centre, with shortlisted candidates invited for interviews. The recruitment pack detailed a comprehensive Behavioural Competency Framework, with essential competencies for the application including Putting Our Customers First, Getting Things Done, Taking Personal Responsibility, Leading Change, Initiating Change and Improvement, Partnering and Corporate Working, and Optimising Resources. These competencies were to be assessed at Level 5, indicating a high level of strategic leadership and operational capability required for the role.

The terms and conditions for the appointment were to be in accordance with the Joint Negotiating Committee for Chief Officers of Local Authorities. The post is politically restricted, in accordance with the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.

Other Business

The committee was also scheduled to receive apologies for absence and to receive any declarations of interest. Additionally, the minutes of the previous meeting held on 8 September 2026 were to be approved. The agenda also noted that information relating to the appointment of the Director was not for publication, by virtue of specific paragraphs of the Local Government Act 1972, which relate to information about applicants and information likely to reveal an individual's identity. The date of the next meeting, for interviews, was scheduled for Thursday, 15 October 2026.