The Appointments & Disciplinary Committee of Croydon Council met on Friday 4 October 2024 to appoint a new Corporate Director of Children, Young People & Education. The committee resolved to agree the salary package for the role and to undertake the selection and appointment process.

Appointment of Corporate Director of Children, Young People & Education

The committee agreed the salary package for the post of Corporate Director of Children, Young People & Education, setting the annual remuneration at £151,131-£160,147, plus a special allowance payment to a maximum of £175,000. The committee also resolved to undertake the selection process and agree an appointment to this crucial statutory post.

Katherine Kerswell, Chief Executive, and Dean Shoesmith, Chief of People, presented the report on the appointment. The role is considered critical, particularly as Croydon has the highest number of children and young people of any London Borough. The position leads Children and Young People's social care and its education responsibilities may expand with potential new government powers for local authorities. The directorate is the largest within the council and faces the challenge of balancing safeguarding responsibilities with budget pressures.

Councillor Stuart King, Leader of the Opposition, supported the recommendations. He noted that an updated Pay Policy would be presented to the Full Council in December 2024 and highlighted that the report used inconsistent terms for the allowance, which officers would correct.

The decision to offer a special occupational scarcity allowance was made following a previous committee meeting on 30 July 2024, where the payment of £14,853 per year was agreed due to market conditions and the proposed salary being below market rate. This was subject to an amendment to the council's market supplement policy to include a scarcity allowance, a decision subsequently exercised by the Chief Executive using her delegated powers. The report detailed that the amendments to the Pay Policy Statement require Full Council approval.

The committee also resolved that any appointment would be subject to the council's Constitution, specifically the Staff Employment Procedure Rules regarding the appointment notification process.

Due to the need to consider further agenda items that involved the disclosure of exempt information, the press and public were excluded from the remainder of the meeting.