The Greenwich Council Appointments Panel met to shortlist applicants for two positions: Director of Legal and Democratic Services, and Deputy Director, Finance. The meeting was scheduled to be held in closed session.

Shortlisting of Director of Legal and Democratic Services Applicants

The panel, including Councillor Anthony Okereke, Leader of the Council, Councillor Averil Lekau, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member Climate Action, Sustainability and Transport, Councillor Denise Hyland, Cabinet Member Finance, Resources and Social Value, Councillor Ivis Williams, Chair of Organisation and Communities Scrutiny Panel, Councillor Nick Williams and Councillor Matt Hartley, Leader of the Opposition, were scheduled to shortlist applicants for the role of Director of Legal and Democratic Services.

The job description states that the Director of Legal and Democratic Services has the statutory Monitoring Officer responsibility, and:

This entails not only the responsibility for ensuring that the Council acts lawfully but also responsibility for advising Members and Senior Officers on governance, decision making and the Council’s Constitution. The post also leads on Ethical Standards for Members.

The Director is also responsible for the strategic leadership and management of the Legal and Democratic Services Directorate, providing strategic legal advice to the council, and playing a key role in elections.

Shortlisting of Deputy Director, Finance Applicants

Following the Director of Legal and Democratic Services item, the panel, consisting of Councillor Anthony Okereke, Leader of the Council, Councillor Averil Lekau, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member Climate Action, Sustainability and Transport, Councillor Denise Hyland, Cabinet Member Finance, Resources and Social Value, Councillor Rachel Taggart-Ryan, Cabinet Member Community Safety and Enforcement and Councillor Matt Hartley, Leader of the Opposition, were scheduled to shortlist applicants for the role of Deputy Director, Finance.

According to the job description, the Deputy Director of Resources – Finance is responsible for providing organisational leadership in managing the Council’s finances sustainably and in the public interest. They also lead Corporate Finance, Finance Business Partnering, Procurement, Internal Audit, Anti-Fraud, Financial Governance and Insurance. The Deputy Director of Resources - Finance also acts as the Deputy Section 151 Officer¹.