The Appointments Sub-Committee of Lambeth Council met on 15 September 2025 to discuss the recruitment process for several Corporate Director positions. The committee was scheduled to interview candidates for these roles on the 15th, 18th, 19th and 25th of September. The report pack included a recommendation to exclude the press and public from the meeting due to the confidential nature of the information to be discussed.

Corporate Director Appointments

The main item on the agenda was the process for recruiting to the posts of Corporate Director of Growth & Environment, Corporate Director of Housing, Corporate Director Integrated Care Board & Adults and Corporate Director of Resources.

The report pack noted that the council had recently completed a top-tier senior management restructure, which changed the name of Strategic Directors to Corporate Directors, and reduced the number of directorates from seven to five, resulting in savings of around £1 million.

The new senior management structure, effective from 1 October 2025, would consist of five Corporate Director roles, four of which were being recruited to on a permanent basis. The recruitment process was ringfenced for current Corporate Directors only.

The report pack stated that the appointments were the responsibility of the Appointments Sub-Committee. It also noted that job descriptions and person specifications for all four roles were drawn up and evaluated as part of the Senior Management Restructure.

Internal Corporate Directors were asked to apply for the roles by confirming an expression of interest and providing a supporting statement. No shortlisting meeting was required as all applicants were considered suitable to go to the final interview.

The report pack noted that expressions of interest had been received from four of the existing Corporate Directors. Specifically, two applications were received for the Corporate Director Integrated Care Board & Adults, one for the Corporate Director of Housing, two for the Corporate Director of Growth & Environment, and one for the Corporate Director of Resources.

Technical assessments were scheduled to be held the week commencing 9 September 2025, and the Appointments Sub Committee was scheduled to interview the candidates for the roles on 15, 18, 19 and 25 September 2025.

The report pack stated that offers of employment would be made where no well-founded objection from any member of the Cabinet was received. The Leader of the Council, Councillor Claire Holland, in consultation with the Director of Human Resources and Organisational Development, would determine the final contractual arrangements.

The report pack included the following recommendations:

(1) To note the process for the appointment of the Corporate Director posts as Chief Officer posts; (2) To exclude the press and public from the remainder of the meeting on the grounds that, for the item of business summarised below, it was likely that the exempt information, as defined by section 100I and schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 and as specified by reference to the appropriate paragraph thereof, would be disclosed to them.

1. Information relating to any individual

The reason given for the exemption from disclosure was:

The candidate reports (to be tabled) are exempt from disclosure by virtue of the following paragraphs of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972: Paragraph 1: Information relating to a particular employee, former employee or applicant to become an employee of, or a particular office-holder, former office-holder or applicant to become an office-holder under, the authority

Corporate Director of Growth and Environment

The report pack included the job description and person specification for the Corporate Director of Growth and Environment role.

The job purpose was described as:

Lead the development and delivery of the Council's Regeneration and Growth Strategies, which enhance socio, economic and environmental growth across Lambeth.

Lead and direct the delivery of efficient and cost-effective provision of Environment, Planning and Enforcement services, which support the key strategic and statutory requirements and business needs.

Ensure the council's planning related functions (incorporating planning policy, development control and building control) underpin the successful delivery of the council's priorities, key regeneration and infrastructure delivery objectives.

Lead and direct the delivery of strategies that ensure efficient and cost-effective highways and transportation networks and household waste services to support the wider regeneration, business and community needs of Lambeth, and discharge statutory obligations for Household Waste Disposal.

Lead the delivery of efficient and cost-effective culture offer, including the provision of Library and Leisure services, tourism and major events, attracting investment into the borough, whilst ensuring local community engagement and participation in our cultural offer.

The report pack stated that the Corporate Director of Growth and Environment would report to the Chief Executive and be responsible for the Director of Highways Environment and FM, the Director of Climate Change, Planning and Transport, the Director of Regeneration, and the Director of Resident Services.

The person specification included the need for:

• A clear understanding of the strategic landscape for economy and regeneration and the opportunities and challenges both nationally and in London.
• Strategic understanding of London as a global city and Lambeth's role as an individual borough and member of sub-regional and London-wide partnerships
• A good understanding of Environment, Planning and Enforcement services
• Sound political acumen and the ability to work with members to deliver the strategic priorities of the Council.
• Significant experience of leading and managing significant change programmes that challenge existing ways of working, and develop and deliver innovative solutions at a senior level in an organisation of comparable scope and complexity
• Track record of leading and developing high performing professional teams.
• Evidence of strong partnership skills – with members, residents, relevant professionals, public sector colleagues, other boroughs, sub-regional and regional bodies, and central government
• Substantial senior management experience in strategic development and economic growth disciplines working corporately within a large and complex public sector organisation, together with an understanding of working in a demanding urban context
• Substantial experience of strategic contract management, ensuring effective value for money.
• Substantial experience of developing effective and productive working relationships with Members.
• Relevant professional qualification or equivalent experience

Exclusion of Press and Public

The agenda included consideration of a resolution to exclude the press and public from the meeting. This was to be done under Section 100A-H of the Local Government Act 1972, on the grounds that exempt information would likely be disclosed. The specific exemption cited was paragraph 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, relating to information about individuals.