The Guildford and Waverley Joint Senior Staff Committee met to interview candidates for the position of Joint Assistant Director, Strategy and Corporate Services, and to decide whether to recommend a candidate for appointment. The Committee was asked to exclude the public from the meeting during the interviews to protect the privacy of the candidates.

Appointment of Joint Assistant Director, Strategy and Corporate Services

The Joint Senior Staff Committee (JSSC) considered the appointment of a Joint Assistant Director, Strategy and Corporate Services. This followed the departure of Robin Taylor, after which their role was split into three Joint Assistant Director roles. For the last six months, Luke Harvey has filled the Strategy and Corporate Services position on an interim basis, on secondment from Guildford Borough Council to Waverley Borough Council.

The JSSC interviewed three shortlisted candidates. Their CVs and supporting statements were included in the exempt appendices of the Public Reports Pack.

The JSSC's role in the appointment process is defined in its terms of reference as:

Adopting and exercising such of the functions of Guildford Borough Council and Waverley Borough Council (the councils ) as can be delegated by those councils in respect of the appointment of the councils' Joint Chief Executive/Head of Paid Service and any Joint Statutory Officer and Director posts as are covered by the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) Regulations 2001 (as amended) or any successor regulations.

The report presented to the committee noted that because the Joint Assistant Director reports directly to the Head of Paid Service, the final decision on the appointment must be made by the JSSC.

The JSSC was asked to consider whether to agree to an appointment, which would be subject to no material or well-founded objection from the Leaders of both councils. If the preferred candidate has a contractual notice period, or if the JSSC cannot recommend a candidate, the Head of Paid Service has the delegated authority to extend the interim arrangement for up to six months, after consulting with the leaders of Waverley and Guildford.

The job profile for the role states that the Joint Assistant Director is accountable for corporate strategy, policy, analysis, performance, risk management and climate change, as well as managing key relationships with external stakeholders, particularly with central government. The role also involves providing advice to councillors and staff, and promoting collaboration and change.

The cost of employing a Joint Assistant Director is split equally between the two councils, with Waverley Borough Council being the employing council.

Approval of Minutes

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 31 July 2025 were approved as a correct record. The draft minutes show that at that meeting, the committee approved a 3% pay award for the Head of Paid Service for 2025-26, backdated to 1 April 2025. This reflected the agreed pay award for Waverley Borough Council and increased the Head of Paid Service's salary to £169,950.