The Staffing Committee of Waltham Forest Council was scheduled to convene on Wednesday, 15 April 2026, with the primary item on the agenda being the appointment of a new Chief Officer. The meeting's proceedings were outlined in the publicly available report pack.

Chief Officer Appointment - Strategic Director - Strategy, Change and Communities

The main focus of the meeting was the consideration of candidates for the role of Strategic Director of Strategy, Change and Communities. This position was established by Cabinet on 17 March 2026 to lead the Mission Waltham Forest Transformation Programme, which aims to deliver £40 million in savings and oversee the organisation-wide Prevention Operating Model. The Strategic Director is intended to unify prevention, community-facing services, strategy, insight, and transformation into a single structure focused on reducing demand, improving outcomes, and driving change.

The report pack indicated that the Staffing Committee was recommended to interview and decide on an appointment for this post. The role's purpose is to provide strategic policy direction, leadership, operational management, and financial control for a service or strategic function within the Council. The Strategic Director is expected to deputise for the Chief Executive and support the Cabinet and Strategic Leadership Team. Key responsibilities include driving organisational improvement, fostering cross-council collaboration, and leading the development and adoption of the Prevention Operating Model. This role is crucial for financial sustainability, with a target of over £42 million in savings over the next three years.

The report detailed the extensive accountabilities of the role, encompassing strategic leadership, development of the Council's overall strategy, and embedding Mission Waltham Forest across the organisation. It also highlighted the responsibility for designing and embedding a whole-system approach to demand management, particularly in adult social care, children's services, temporary accommodation, and SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities). The Strategic Director would also be responsible for providing professional advice and guidance to elected members, the Chief Executive, and other senior officers.

The report specified that financial provision for this post exists within the Council's budget. The appointment process is to be conducted in accordance with the Council's Recruitment & Selection Policy and Procedure, and the Staffing Committee holds delegated authority from the full Council to make such appointments. The report also noted that one candidate had been recommended by the Chief Executive and the Corporate Director of Culture and Workforce Development for consideration by the committee.

The meeting was scheduled to take place at Waltham Forest Town Hall. The agenda also included standard procedural items such as apologies for absence, declarations of interest, and the potential exclusion of the press and public for specific agenda items if exempt information was to be discussed.