The Appointment Sub-Committee of Tower Hamlets Council met on Thursday 10 September 2026. The primary purpose of the meeting was to consider the shortlisting of candidates for the role of Director of Finance. Due to the confidential nature of the business, the press and public were excluded for the majority of the meeting.

Shortlisting for Director of Finance

The main item scheduled for discussion was the shortlisting for the permanent position of Director of Finance. The report pack indicated that the Appointments Sub-Committee was asked to consider a report prepared by the executive search consultants, Penna, which contained recommendations for which candidates should be shortlisted for the final stage of interviews.

The report detailed the recruitment process, which began with advertising the position in June 2026, with the advert closing on 24 July 2026. Advertising was conducted through the council's website, Penna's website, and the Municipal Journal, alongside a targeted executive search by Penna. The report also included the CVs and supporting statements of all candidates.

The committee was asked to agree the shortlist of candidates recommended by Penna to proceed to final stage interviews. The report highlighted that appointing to the role on a permanent basis was considered to represent improved value for money compared to agency engagement and would provide greater leadership stability, positively impacting risk management and performance delivery.

The report also outlined the terms of reference for the Appointments Sub-Committee, which is established to make appointments to Chief Officer and Deputy Chief Officer posts in accordance with the council's Constitution and agreed Recruitment and Selection procedures. For such appointments, the committee comprises five councillors, with specific requirements for representation from the Executive and political proportionality. The quorum for the committee was noted as three members.

The report also referenced the legal framework governing appointments, including Section 112 of the Local Government Act 1972, which requires the council to appoint necessary officers, and Section 7 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, stipulating that all appointments should be on merit. The Officer Employment Procedure Rules in the council's Constitution were also mentioned, along with the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) Regulations 2001. Furthermore, the report noted the council's commitment to equalities and compliance with the Equality Act 2010, ensuring that the recruitment process is fair and that reasonable adjustments are made.

The agenda also included a section on declarations of interest, with a note from the Monitoring Officer providing guidance on Disclosable Pecuniary Interests (DPIs) and Non-DPI Interests. Members were reminded of their obligations to declare interests and, in some cases, to withdraw from the meeting. The report also drew attention to guidance on predetermination and bias.

The meeting was scheduled to begin with apologies for absence and the election of a Chair, followed by the declarations of interest. Subsequently, a motion was to be considered to exclude the press and public from the remainder of the meeting due to the exempt/confidential nature of the business, which was defined as containing information relating to the identity of individuals or the financial or business affairs of particular persons.