The Teignbridge Council Appointments & Remuneration Committee met on 1 September 2025, and agreed to a recruitment process for the Director of Corporate Services and Section 151 Officer. They also agreed to recommend to the Full Council that the Head of Financial Services and Audit be appointed as the interim Section 151 Officer.

Recruitment of the Director of Corporate Services and Section 151 Officer

The committee approved the recruitment process for the Director of Corporate Services and Section 151 Officer, and agreed to recommend to the Full Council that the Head of Financial Services and Audit be appointed as the interim Section 151 Officer.

The Section 151 Officer is a statutory role that every council is required to appoint under Section 151 of the Local Government Act 1972¹. The Appointments and Remuneration Committee is responsible for deciding upon the recruitment process leading to recommendations of the appointment of Statutory Chief Officers.

The agreed recruitment process will consist of an external advertising campaign, followed by interviews with the Senior Leadership Team and the relevant Portfolio Holder. The process will also include a competency-based interview, a written exercise, and psychometric testing. Following this, the Appointments and Remuneration Committee will meet again to approve the nominee and make a recommendation to the Full Council.

The current Head of Financial Services and Audit is the Deputy S151 Officer and is considered suitably qualified and experienced to undertake the role on an interim basis.

Councillor Chris Clarance, Independent Group Leader & Shadow Portfolio Holder for Corporate Strategy, Devolution, Strategic Partnerships and Governance, asked about the current position of the Local Government Re-organisation process, and Phil Shears, Managing Director, responded orally.

Minutes

The committee approved the minutes of the previous meeting as a correct record.