The Staff and Appointments Committee of Northumberland Council met on Wednesday, 15 April 2026. The primary item on the agenda was the appointment of a new Director of Digital and IT, with a confidential appendix containing the preferred candidate's details.

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. This role had been vacant since November 2025, with an interim director covering the period. A nationwide search for candidates began in February 2026, leading to six shortlisted candidates who underwent an assessment centre on 25 and 27 March 2026. The selection process involved a psychometric assessment using Lumina Spark, a staff panel question and answer session chaired by Jill Davison, Head of Policy and Performance, and a presentation followed by a structured interview. The interview panel consisted of 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 pack indicated that Daniel Simms had been identified as the preferred candidate following this assessment. The committee was asked to accept the findings of the selection panel and approve the appointment. The report noted that offers of employment would be subject to pre-employment checks, and the commencement date would be confirmed once these were completed satisfactorily. The proposed remuneration for the Director of Digital and IT was Band 16, amounting to £112,240 per annum, excluding employer's national insurance and pension contributions. This appointment was considered relevant to all areas of the Corporate Plan, ensuring the Council's compliance with its constitution and legal duties for an effective staffing establishment.

The report also reminded the committee of the requirements under the Officer Employment Procedure Rules for the appointment of Chief and Deputy Chief Officers. It stated that the appointment had received no substantial or well-founded objections, in accordance with Part 4.3 of the Constitution.

The committee was also scheduled to consider a resolution to exclude the press and public from the meeting during the discussion of certain information related to this appointment, as it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information concerning individuals. This exclusion was proposed under Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, with the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighing the public interest in disclosure.

The next meeting was scheduled for Wednesday, 20 May 2026, at 2.00 pm in the Council Chamber, County Hall, Morpeth.