The Staffing Committee of Waltham Forest Council met on Wednesday 3 September 2025. The main item for discussion was the appointment of a Corporate Director of Resident Experience and Digital. The committee was also scheduled to discuss excluding the press and public from part of the meeting.

Corporate Director of Resident Experience and Digital Appointment

The Staffing Committee was scheduled to interview candidates for the Chief Officer post of Corporate Director of Resident Experience & Digital. The Chief Officer Appointment CD Resident Experience Digital Cover Report noted that the new Corporate Director of Resident Experience & Digital role was created to report to the Chief Executive and manage three Assistant Directors: Assistant Director Resident Experience & Business Support, Assistant Director Digital and Innovation, and Assistant Director Technology Services.

According to the Chief Officer Appointment CD Resident Experience Digital Cover Report, shortlisted applicants had already attended a technical interview, and the remaining applicants were to be considered by the members. It was noted that the questions drafted for the members to pose were crafted around the role profile and the ambitions that the council has for the post holder to fulfil. Councillor Andrew Dixon, Portfolio Lead Member - Stronger Communities and the other members were scheduled to consider two candidates for the role.

The Appendix 1 - CD of Resident Experience and Digital Role Profile described the purpose of the role:

Improved resident experience is at the heart of Waltham Forest's transformation journey. As Corporate Director of Resident Experience and Digital, you will be the strategic leader for this agenda, shaping how we interact with our residents and how technology can enable services to be more efficient, inclusive and impactful.

The post holder would also be responsible for driving down repeat contacts and failure demand¹ to unlock savings, and for setting the vision and driving delivery of the council's Digital and Technology roadmap.

Exclusion of Press and Public

The committee was scheduled to consider excluding the press and public from the remainder of the meeting. This was proposed in accordance with Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972², as amended. The grounds for this were that the consideration of the items would involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1 and 2 of Schedule 12A to the Act.