The Audit and Corporate Governance (Appointment Panel) Sub-Committee met to discuss the appointment of a new Executive Director Homes and Communities. The Sub-Committee was scheduled to note the appointment process, job details and progress made to date, interview candidates, and potentially recommend a candidate for the role. Councillors were asked to consider advice within the Executive Director Homes and Communities Final Member Panel Report and could seek further advice during the meeting.

Executive Director Homes and Communities Appointment

The Sub-Committee was scheduled to discuss the appointment of an Executive Director Homes and Communities, a role created to provide strategic leadership, centre the voices of tenants, families and communities, respond to increased regulation and housing demand, and manage Camden's assets.

The Executive Director Homes and Communities Final Member Panel Report outlined the process to date:

• The role was advertised, with a closing date of 31 August 2025.
• The Chief Executive, supported by the Director of People and Inclusion, undertook 'longlisting' on 5 September 2025.
• Each long-listed candidate had a 'technical' interview on 10 September 2025.
• On 16 September 2025, members shortlisted two candidates to progress to the assessment centre.
• An assessment centre, including Officer, Residents, Partner, and Young People's panels, took place on 23 September 2025.
• Both candidates were recommended to the Final Member Panel.

The report stated that information from this process would support the Sub-Committee in interviewing candidates and potentially recommending a candidate, subject to no objections from the Cabinet, references, and medical checks, and agreement on a starting salary.

The report included a recommendation that the Sub-Committee:

(1) Notes the process for appointment to the post of Executive Director Homes and Communities

(2) Notes the job details for this post and the progress made to date; and

(3) Interviews candidates and if appropriate recommends an offer of appointment, subject to there being no well-founded objections.

The report also noted that Camden Council aims to have a representative workforce at all levels and publishes detailed data on gender, ethnicity, and disability pay gaps. It also stated that, as a Timewise council, all positions are open to applicants who wish to work part-time or flexibly, unless there is a good business reason why this is not possible.

The Director of Finance agreed that the budget to cover the costs of this post would be allocated from corporate contingency¹.

The Borough Solicitor commented that the process set out in the report complies with the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) Regulations 2001, and that any appointment made by the Council must be on merit, subject only to some exemptions concerning the council's equality duties.

The role profile for the Executive Director Homes and Communities stated that the successful candidate would:

• Be part of Camden's Corporate Management Team.
• Lead landlord services for over 30,000 homes and champion services for tenants, leaseholders, and vulnerable residents.
• Ensure Camden meets the new regulatory standards for social housing, with a focus on transparency, safety, and accountability.
• Drive integration of welfare, homelessness prevention, temporary accommodation, and financial resilience work.
• Maximise the value of Camden's housing and property assets.
• Lead long-term strategic investment in housing quality, estate regeneration and net-zero delivery.
• Oversee asset management, capital delivery, repairs and maintenance functions.
• Align Housing and Property services ambitions with Camden-wide levers like Good Work Camden, the Community Wealth Fund², and progressive procurement.
• Develop a culture of continuous learning, experimentation and adaptations to the system within the Homes and Communities directorate.
• Create a truly inclusive organisation and lead by example to support and encourage diversity in all respects.
• Create strong relationships with strategic partners such as Social Housing Regulator and the Housing Ombudsman.
• Bring together services to increase operational capacity around tackling poverty and debt.

The documentation also stated that Camden is looking for someone who shares the same core values and level of ambition as set out in We Make Camden, the council's community vision for the future of the borough.

Other Business

The agenda included the election of a chair for the meeting.