The Appointment Committee met to consider candidates for the role of Director of Frontline Services. The meeting's agenda focused on the longlisting process for this senior appointment.

Appointment of Director - Frontline Services

The primary item scheduled for discussion was the longlisting of candidates for the position of Director, Frontline Services. This process involves reviewing applications to identify a shortlist of individuals to progress to the next stage of the recruitment process, which is an assessment centre. The report pack outlines the appointment process, including the election of a Chair for the committee and the role of the lead officer in presenting the summary report and facilitating the discussion.

The recruitment for this role is guided by the Cardiff Council Behavioural Competency Framework. This framework details the expected competencies for senior roles, including Putting our Customers First, Getting Things Done, Taking Personal Responsibility, Seeking to Understand Others, Developing Potential, Leading Change, Initiating Change and Improvement, Organisational Awareness, Partnering and Corporate Working, Communicating, Analysing, Problem Solving and Decision Making, Equality and Diversity, Optimising Resources, and Demonstrating Political Acumen. The framework describes these competencies at various levels, with Level 5 representing the highest standard expected for senior leadership positions.

The role of Director, Frontline Services is a significant appointment, responsible for leading a new directorate encompassing a wide range of services. These include Recycling and Neighbourhood Services, Parks Services, Cardiff Harbour Authority, Highways Assets & Maintenance, Civil Parking Enforcement, and Bereavement & Registration Services. The position carries a salary of £145,999 per annum. The recruitment pack highlights the council's ambition, referencing a recent independent peer review that described Cardiff Council as a good and ambitious Council with a can-do and optimistic culture.

The Director, Frontline Services will be expected to provide strategic leadership and direction, offering analysis and advice to Cabinet Members and Councillors on delivering the administration's Stronger, Fairer, Greener commitments and the Council's Corporate Plan. The role requires experience in delivering frontline services such as waste and highways management, and the ability to lead strategic and transformational change to ensure effective and efficient implementation of the Council's strategic choices and achieve continually improving outcomes for residents. The council is seeking candidates with technical skills, managerial capacity, and innovation to support its political leadership and achieve its vision.

The Public reports pack for the meeting also includes notes on the longlisting process, detailing the steps involved in reviewing applications and agreeing on candidates to be included in the shortlist for the assessment centre.

The meeting's agenda also included standard procedural items such as the election of a Chair, receiving apologies for absence, and declarations of interest. The Terms of Reference for the Appointment Committee were also to be discharged, which involve the appointment and dismissal of Chief Officers and Deputy Chief Officers. A portion of the meeting was scheduled to be held in private, with information not for publication by virtue of specific paragraphs of the Local Government Act 1972.