The Appointments & Disciplinary Committee of Croydon Council was scheduled to discuss the appointment of a new Director of Customer Experience & Technology, the outcome of an employment tribunal case involving Hazel Simmonds, and senior staffing matters including pay reviews.

Appointment to the post of Director of Customer Experience & Technology

The committee was scheduled to consider the appointment of a Director of Customer Experience & Technology. The report presented for discussion sought approval for the salary package for this role, which was proposed to be Grade 3, ranging from £122,803 to £127,684 per annum. The role's responsibilities include leading on technology, cyber security, digital and data strategies, as well as customer experience. The report highlighted that the current interim arrangement for this post is not sustainable, and a permanent appointment is considered the most cost-effective solution. The recruitment process involved advertising the role internally and externally, with initial conversations and interviews conducted by senior officers and a panel from the Council Management Team. The appointment would be subject to the council's constitution regarding staff employment procedure rules.

Outcome of the Hazel Simmonds Employment Tribunal Case

The committee was scheduled to be formally notified of the outcome of the Hazel Simmonds employment tribunal (ET) case, which concluded on 22 December 2023. The report indicated that all of Ms. Simmonds' claims were dismissed by the tribunal as they were not well-founded. The case involved allegations of discrimination, harassment, victimisation, constructive unfair dismissal, and wrongful dismissal, with Ms. Simmonds seeking compensation exceeding £1.1 million. The report detailed the council's defence against these claims, noting the complexity and contentious nature of the issues, which included historical corporate failures and financial mismanagement. The council incurred substantial legal costs in defending these claims, which were outlined in a supplementary appendix. A separate contractual claim regarding unlawful deductions of pay was upheld by the ET, resulting in a payment to Ms. Simmonds.

Senior Staffing Matters

The committee was scheduled to review senior staffing matters, specifically concerning the pay of the Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service, and the review of market supplements for Chief Officers and Deputy Chief Officers. The report relating to these matters was designated as exempt information, meaning it was not available for public disclosure due to containing details about individuals. This suggests the discussions would have involved specific remuneration packages and potential adjustments for senior roles within the council.