The Chief Officer Appointment Committee of Newham Council is scheduled to convene on Friday 19 June 2026 to discuss the establishment of sub-committees for the recruitment of two key senior roles: the Director of Public Health and the Chief Executive and Head of Paid Services. The committee will also consider exempt information relating to candidates for these positions.

Director of Public Health Appointment

A significant item on the agenda involves the establishment of a Chief Officer Appointment Committee for the recruitment of a Director of Public Health. The report pack indicates that the committee is being asked to agree the size and membership of a joint Chief Officer Appointment Sub-Committee and Appointments Advisory Committee. This joint committee will be responsible for making an appointment to the Director of Public Health role. The intention is to re-interview candidates who were previously shortlisted and interviewed in May 2026. This process follows a formal objection raised regarding the initial recruitment, which was found to be well-founded, preventing the appointment from proceeding. The Director of Public Health is a statutory chief officer accountable to the Newham Health and Wellbeing Board, the Chief Executive, and the Secretary of State for Health. The role involves leadership across health improvement, health protection, and healthcare public health, with managerial accountability to the Corporate Director of Adults and Health. The report pack outlines the required composition of the Appointments Advisory Committee, which typically includes the chief executive, representatives from Public Health England (PHE) and the NHS, and an external professional assessor appointed in consultation with the Faculty of Public Health (FPH). The Mayor, Forhad Hussain, is noted as the customary chair of such an advisory committee. The recruitment process will adhere to the Faculty of Public Health guidance and the Council's own Equality Act 2010 policies, aiming for a fair and equitable process.

Chief Executive and Head of Paid Services Recruitment

The committee is also scheduled to discuss the establishment of a Chief Officer Appointment Committee for the recruitment and appointment to the permanent position of Chief Executive and Head of Paid Services. The report recommends that the Chief Officer Appointment Committee appoint themselves as the Sub-Committee to undertake this recruitment and subsequently recommend a permanent Chief Executive to the full Council. The role of Chief Executive and Head of Paid Services has been covered on an interim basis since July 2025. The recruitment process, supported by external agency Gatenby Sanderson, commenced in March 2026. The report details a comprehensive timetable for the recruitment, including longlisting, technical assessment, shortlisting, psychometric assessment, stakeholder panels, and final interviews scheduled for 19 June 2026. The Chief Executive role is a statutory position, responsible for providing corporate and strategic leadership, ensuring the Council operates lawfully and efficiently, and upholding high standards of probity and transparency. As Head of Paid Services, the appointee will also fulfil statutory responsibilities related to elections as the Returning Officer and Electoral Registration Officer. The composition of the Chief Officer Appointment Sub-Committee will be in line with the Council's Constitution, requiring the Mayor to be a standing member, with a quorum of three. The report also highlights the Council's commitment to diverse recruitment panels, as detailed in Appendix C of the relevant document.

The meeting will also address the exclusion of press and public for specific agenda items, as permitted under the Local Government Act 1972, as Amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985, to consider exempt information regarding candidates.

The documents related to this meeting are:

• Public reports pack 19th-Jun-2026 09.15 Chief Officer Appointment Committee
• Agenda frontsheet 19th-Jun-2026 09.15 Chief Officer Appointment Committee
• Flow chart for agendas