The Appointment Sub-Committee of Tower Hamlets Council met on Tuesday 22 September 2026. The primary focus of the meeting was scheduled to be the final interviews for the Director of Finance position. The meeting also included procedural items such as noting declarations of interest and confirming minutes from a previous meeting.

Interviews for the Director of Finance

The main item scheduled for discussion was the interviews for the Director of Finance (Deputy s151) role. The report pack indicated that the committee was to consider a report from the executive search agency, Penna, which contained the final interview pack for shortlisted candidates. The committee was recommended to interview and assess each candidate according to the council's policies and practices. Following the interviews, the committee was to determine which candidates met the required benchmark for the position and, if more than one candidate was appointable, to decide which candidate should be offered the post. It was noted that the Executive would have 48 hours to provide comment on any proposed appointment, and any objections raised would be considered further before a formal offer was made.

The report highlighted the importance of this role in ensuring the council's ability to discharge its statutory financial duties, contribute to continuous improvement, and deliver on the external auditors' statutory recommendations. The position also plays a key part in the senior leadership team, responsible for effective resource use, good governance, and leadership accountability, with shared responsibility for delivering the council's strategic plan and mayoral priorities. The recruitment process involved extensive advertising and a targeted executive search by Penna, which resulted in fourteen applications. Following technical interviews, three candidates were recommended for shortlisting and progression to the final interviews.

The report also outlined the terms of reference for the Appointments Sub-Committee, which include making appointments to Chief Officer and Deputy Chief Officer posts in accordance with the council's Constitution and agreed Recruitment and Selection procedure. For a Corporate Director level appointment, the committee is to comprise five councillors, with specific requirements for representation from the Leader of the Aspire Group and at least one member of the Executive. The quorum for the committee is set at three members.

The report also touched upon equalities implications, stating that the council's commitment to equalities includes achieving a workforce that reflects the community and that all posts are recruited on merit. Furthermore, it addressed statutory implications, noting that permanent recruitment to the role represents improved value for money compared to agency engagement and provides greater leadership stability, positively impacting risk management and performance delivery. Legal services confirmed that the appointment process aligns with 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, mandating appointments on merit. The process also adheres to the Officer Employment Procedure Rules and the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) Regulations 2001, ensuring the committee includes at least one member of the Executive and is politically proportionate. The council must also comply with the Equality Act 2010, ensuring no discrimination based on protected characteristics and actively working to eliminate unlawful conduct, advance equality of opportunity, and foster good relations.

Declarations of Interest

The agenda included an item to note any declarations of interest made by Members. This note from the Interim Monitoring Officer provided guidance on Disclosable Pecuniary Interests (DPIs) and Non-DPI Interests, outlining the requirements for members to declare interests and, in some cases, withdraw from discussions and voting. It also drew members' attention to guidance on predetermination and bias, particularly in relation to the merits of a case being considered with an open mind. Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 was also referenced, concerning declarations that restrict members in cases of Council Tax arrears.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting

The committee was scheduled to confirm as a correct record the minutes of the Appointments Sub-Committee held on 10 September 2026. This would have included the confirmation of exempt minutes from that previous meeting.

Exclusion of the Press and Public

In view of the confidential nature of the remaining agenda items, the committee was recommended to adopt a motion to exclude the press and public from the remainder of the meeting. This was on the grounds that the business contained information defined as Exempt in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, which typically relates to information that is commercially, legally, or personally sensitive.