The Tower Hamlets Appointment Sub-Committee met to interview candidates for the role of Director of Corporate Property and Estates and to determine which candidate, if any, should be offered the post. The Committee also approved the minutes of their previous meeting held on 18 August 2025. Due to the confidential nature of the discussion regarding the candidates, the press and public were excluded from the meeting.

Director of Corporate Property and Estates Appointment

The main purpose of the meeting was to interview candidates for the position of Director of Corporate Property and Estates. The Appointment Sub-Committee (ASC) considered a report from Stephen Halsey, Chief Executive, which included a final interview report prepared by Penna, the recruitment consultants.

The committee followed the recommendations outlined in the report:

• Interviewed and assessed each candidate.
• Determined which candidate, if any, should be offered the post.
• Noted that the Executive would be given 48 hours to comment on the proposed appointment, and the Sub-Committee may be required to meet again to consider any negative feedback before a final appointment is made.
• Subject to the above, noted that the Interim Head of Corporate Human Resources would undertake all necessary recruitment processes to engage the selected candidate in line with the Council's HR policies.

The Director of Corporate Property and Estates is responsible for the strategic leadership, management, and optimisation of the council's non-residential property portfolio, including:

• Facilities Management (FM)
• Commercial Property
• Acquisitions and Disposals
• Strategic Asset Management Planning (SAMP)

The role also fulfils the council's corporate landlord function.

The job description specifies that the successful candidate will:

Lead the strategic management of the council's non residential property portfolio, ensuring that all assets are effectively utilised and contribute to the council's financial and service objectives.

The report noted that interim arrangements were in place pending the appointment, but that filling the Director role on a permanent basis was necessary to create stability. The position was advertised in June 2025 via the council's website, Penna Exec Search, the Municipal Journal, Inside Housing and social media, with a targeted executive search also undertaken by Penna.

The report also outlined the composition of the ASC, stating that it:

shall comprise six Councillors as follows: Three Members selected by the Leader of the Aspire Group, at least one of whom must either be the Mayor or a member of the Executive and Two Councillors selected by the Leader of the largest Opposition Group And One ungrouped Councillor appointed by the Monitoring Officer (if one nomination received) or the Human Resources Committee (if more than one nomination received).

The report also noted that in accordance with the requirements of the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) Regulations 2001, the ASC must include at least one member of the Executive¹.

Exclusion of Press and Public

The committee resolved to exclude the press and public from the meeting, citing Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972², as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985. This exclusion was due to the discussion of information defined as exempt in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, specifically information that could identify individuals.

Approval of Minutes

The committee approved the unrestricted and exempt/confidential minutes of the meeting held on Monday, 18 August 2025, as a correct record of proceedings. Councillor Maium Talukdar, Chair, signed the minutes.

Declarations of Interest

There were no declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests³ made by any of the members present.