The General Purposes Committee of Greenwich Council met on Wednesday 27 May 2026 to agree salary ranges for several Chief Officer posts. The committee noted the ongoing review of Chief Officer pay in line with the Council's Pay Policy Statement for 2026/2027 and approved specific salary ranges for the Chief Executive, Senior Assistant Director - Health and Adult Services, Assistant Director of Public Health / Consultant in Public Health, and Assistant Director (Planning and Building Control) Chief Planning Officer.

Chief Officer Salary Ranges Approved

The committee agreed to the salary ranges for several key Chief Officer positions, aligning with the Council's Pay Policy Statement for 2026/2027. This decision follows an ongoing review of Chief Officer remuneration.

The approved salary ranges are as follows:

• Chief Executive: £228,717 – £238,423 (Chief Officer Grade CE)
• Senior Assistant Director - Health and Adult Services: £123,290 – £135,409 (Chief Officer Grade B)
• Assistant Director of Public Health / Consultant in Public Health: £96,049 – £107,175 (Chief Officer Grade D)
• Assistant Director (Planning and Building Control) Chief Planning Officer: £108,409 – £119,536 (Chief Officer Grade C)

The report presented to the committee highlighted that these salary ranges are intended to ensure the Council remains competitive in the market, enabling it to attract and retain high-calibre Chief Officers. The report also detailed the statutory requirements under the Localism Act 2011 regarding the Council's Pay Policy Statement, which outlines policies on the remuneration of chief officers and the relationship between their pay and that of the lowest-paid employees. The Finance and Resources Director, Damon Cook, confirmed that the estimated costs for these posts, including on-costs, fall within the allocated budget and are part of the agreed staffing establishment.

The decision to agree these salary ranges was made in accordance with Part 3 of the Council's constitution, which grants the General Purposes Committee the authority to agree salary levels for posts with remuneration of £100,000 or over. The report noted that taking no action could potentially hinder the Council's ability to attract and retain suitable candidates for these senior roles. The approved salary ranges are considered to recognise market conditions, the specialist nature of the roles, and the challenges in securing experienced leadership.

The job descriptions for each of these roles were also provided, outlining their responsibilities. The Assistant Director of Public Health / Consultant in Public Health role, for instance, involves improving the health and wellbeing of residents, working across organisations, and leading on major public health priorities. The Senior Assistant Director - Health and Adult Services role focuses on shaping strategy for adult social care, developing partnerships, and ensuring the safeguarding of vulnerable adults. The Chief Executive's role is to provide strategic leadership, manage the Council's staff and resources, and advise elected Members. The Assistant Director (Planning and Building Control) Chief Planning Officer is responsible for managing and delivering high-quality planning and building control services, providing strategic leadership, and developing service initiatives.

The meeting was attended by Councillor Anthony Okereke (Leader of the Council), Councillor Patrick Ives, Councillor Matt Hartley (Leader of the Conservative Group), and Damon Cook.