The Staff and Appointments Committee of Northumberland Council was scheduled to meet on Wednesday, 15 April 2026. The primary item on the agenda was the appointment of a new Director of Digital and IT, following a selection process.

Appointment of Director of Digital and IT

The committee was scheduled to consider the outcome of the selection process for the Director of Digital and IT. A report was presented outlining the process, which included a nationwide search, shortlisting of candidates, and an assessment centre held on 25 and 27 March 2026. The assessment involved psychometric testing using Lumina Spark, a staff panel question and answer session, a presentation, and a structured interview. The interview panel comprised Jon Ritchie, Executive Director of Transformation and Resources (Designate); Audrey Kingham, Executive Director of Children, Young People and Education; and Gill O'Neil, Executive Director of Public Health, Stronger Communities and Inequalities.

The report indicated that Daniel Simms had been identified as the preferred candidate following a thorough assessment of their skills, knowledge, and experience, and their fit against the Council's values and the Nolan Principles¹. The committee was asked to confirm the findings of the selection panel and approve the appointment of the preferred candidate. Offers of employment were to be subject to pre-employment checks, with the effective date of commencement to be confirmed upon satisfactory completion of these checks. The proposed remuneration for the Director of Digital and IT was Band 16, £112,240 per annum, excluding employer's national insurance and pension contributions.

The report noted that the role of Director of Digital and IT had been vacant since November 2025, with an interim director engaged to cover the period. The appointment was considered relevant to all areas of the Corporate Plan, ensuring the Council's compliance with its constitution and legal duties regarding staffing. The report also reminded the committee of the requirements under the Officer Employment Procedure Rules for the appointment of Chief and Deputy Chief Officers.

A confidential, exempt appendix was attached to the report, containing the CV of the preferred candidate. The agenda also indicated that the committee would be invited to pass a resolution to exclude the press and public from the meeting during the consideration of this item, due to the likely disclosure of exempt information relating to an individual.