The Staff and Appointments Committee of Northumberland Council met on Wednesday, 15 April 2026. The primary item scheduled for discussion was the appointment of a new Director of Digital and IT.

Appointment of Director of Digital and IT

The committee was scheduled to consider the outcome of the selection process for the Director of Digital and IT. A report presented to the committee outlined the purpose of the report as confirming the selection process results and seeking approval for the appointment of a preferred candidate. The report noted that the role had been vacant since November 2025, with an interim director covering the period. A nationwide search for candidates had been conducted, with six individuals shortlisted for interviews and an assessment centre held on 25 and 27 March 2026. The assessment process included psychometric testing, a staff panel question and answer session, a presentation, and a structured interview. The interview panel comprised of Jon Ritchie, Executive Director of Transformation and Resources (Designate); Audrey Kingham, Executive Director of Children, Young People and Education; and Gill O'Neil, Executive Director of Public Health, Stronger Communities and Inequalities.

The report indicated that Daniel Simms had been identified as the preferred candidate following a thorough assessment of skills, knowledge, and experience, and consideration of the candidate's fit against the Council's values and the Nolan Principles¹. The committee was requested to accept the findings of the selection panel and agree to the appointment of Daniel Simms. The report also stated that offers of employment would be subject to pre-employment checks, and the effective date of commencement would be confirmed once these checks were satisfactorily completed. The recommended remuneration for the Director of Digital and IT was Band 16, £112,240 per annum, excluding employer's national insurance and pension contributions.

The report also reminded the committee of the requirements under the Officer Employment Procedure Rules² concerning the appointment of Chief and Deputy Chief Officers. It was noted that the appointment had received no substantial or well-founded objections, in accordance with Part 4.3 of the Council's Constitution.

A confidential, exempt appendix was attached to the report, containing the CV of the preferred candidate. The agenda indicated that the committee would be invited to pass a resolution to exclude the press and public from the meeting during the consideration of this item, due to the likely disclosure of exempt information relating to individuals.