The JNC Appointments, Salaries and Structures Panel met on Wednesday 4 February 2026 to discuss a significant review of the council's senior leadership structure and to appoint a new Director of Law and Governance. The panel agreed to a restructuring of senior roles, including the creation of new positions and the redesignation of others, aiming to improve alignment with the council's Change Programme and achieve estimated savings of £171,000. Additionally, Deirdre Collins was appointed as the new Director of Law and Governance (and Monitoring Officer).

Senior Leadership Review

The panel agreed to a comprehensive review and redesign of the council's senior leadership structure, intended to better align with the council's Change Programme, which has a renewed focus on People , Place and Partnerships . This review follows the last full senior leadership assessment in 2021 and aims to build on the council's strengths, as recognised by a recent Local Government Association (LGA) Corporate Peer Challenge¹.

Key changes to the structure include:

• Creation of a Strategic Director of Place: This new role will consolidate responsibilities previously held by the Strategic Director, Inclusive Growth and Place, and the Strategic Director, Housing, Environment and Communities. The Strategic Director of Place will oversee all housing services, the Investment and Acquisition Strategy (IAS), regeneration, and place-based services under the new Neighbourhood model.
• Realignment of other service areas: Parking services will move under the Director of Enforcement, Regulatory Services and Community Safety. Client function responsibilities for all council companies will transfer to the redesignated Director of Assets, Property and Client Services. Early Help services and the new Cares Academy will become the responsibility of the Director of Children's Care and Support.
• Redesignation of roles:
  • The Strategic Director, Children and Adults, will be redesignated as the Strategic Director of People (DASS and DCS), signifying their corporate lead role on People and statutory responsibilities.
  • The Director of Strategy will become the Director of Strategy, IT and Change, pending further consultation on IT service line management.
  • The Director of Property and Assets will be redesignated as the Director of Assets, Property and Client Services.
  • The Commissioning Director, Care and Support, will become the Director of Commissioning and Innovation, reflecting the growing focus on innovation in social care and changes within the local Integrated Care Board (ICB)².
  • The Director of Workforce Change will be redesignated as the Director of Human Resources and Organisational Development (HR/OD).
• New Director of Customer Experience: A new JNC-level post will be created to lead improvements in digital-enabled services, resident information provision, and to foster a modern, change-focused organisation. This role will also encompass Information Governance, aiming to improve data sharing across public sector organisations, and management of public-facing teams for member casework, FOIs, data protection, and complaints.
• Permanent Director of Community and Health Integration: This post will become permanent to maintain focus on prevention and lead health and community neighbourhood integration.
• Potential sharing of Director of Public Health: Discussions will be progressed regarding the potential sharing of the Director of Public Health post with the London Borough of Redbridge. This move is seen as potentially beneficial for linking health across a wider geographical area and aligning with health partners.

The proposed changes are expected to result in an estimated saving of £171,000 on senior management staffing costs once fully implemented. The panel authorised the Chief Executive to commence formal consultation with affected staff and Trade Unions, amend job descriptions, and determine salary levels within the approved Senior Leadership pay structure.

The panel resolved to:

• Agree the proposed deletion of the Strategic Director, Inclusive Growth and Place, and Strategic Director, Housing, Environment and Communities posts, and commence formal consultation.
• Agree the creation of the Strategic Director of Place, Director of Customer Experience, and Director of Community and Health Integration (moving from interim to permanent) posts.
• Agree the redesignation of several existing posts as detailed above.
• Authorise the Chief Executive to commence formal consultation with Trade Unions and affected staff.
• Agree the deletion of the terms Commissioning and Operational from the titles of relevant Director-level posts.
• Agree the new strategic accountabilities for all JNC officers.
• Authorise the Chief Executive to make appropriate revisions to specific job descriptions.
• Agree the positioning of the current Director of Strategy and Strategic Director, Inclusive Growth and Place to Competent Level 1 in the Senior Leadership pay parameters, effective from 1 January 2026.
• Delegate authority to the Chief Executive to determine future progression assessments from 'Learning' to 'Competent' level, determine salaries for specific new posts, and make minor job description changes.
• Authorise the Chief Executive to progress discussions for the proposed sharing of the Director of Public Health post with the London Borough of Redbridge.

Appointment of Director of Law and Governance (and Monitoring Officer)

The panel resolved to appoint Deirdre Collins, the current Head of Legal (and Monitoring Officer), to the newly created post of Director of Law and Governance (and Monitoring Officer) on a permanent basis. Ms. Collins was interviewed for the position, having assimilation rights to the role. The position will be offered at Director Competent Level spinal point 2 (£117,596) under the Senior Leadership pay structure.