Four new executives have been appointed to the top team at Northumberland County Council, as long-standing interim arrangements come to an end.
The new directors have not yet been named, but were approved by councillors on the staff and appointments committee on Monday following an intense week of interviews by a cross-party panel of councillors.
The council has been interviewing for an executive director in five roles as well as a new monitoring officer. Currently, these positions are being filled by interim staff - with many having been in post for a significant amount of time.
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The roles that have needed to be filled are:
- Executive Director – Place and Regeneration
- Executive Director – Adults, Ageing and Wellbeing
- Executive Director – Public Health, Inequalities and Stronger Communities
- Executive Director – Children and Young People
- Executive Director – Transformation and Resources (section 151 officer)
- Director of Corporate Law and Governance (monitoring officer)
It follows the appointment of Dr Helen Paterson as the council's new chief executive, replacing interim Rick O'Farrell. Dr Paterson will begin the role in the coming days and met with the candidates for the new executive team.
Two positions - the new section 151 officer and monitoring officer - are statutory roles and will therefore have to be approved by full council. However, it is understood the council has so far been unable to appoint a new monitoring officer.
Speaking at Monday's meeting, Mr O'Farrell said: "This committee has the power to appoint four of these directors. For the executive director of transformation and corporate law, that authority is reserved to full council and will go the the next meeting of the full council.
"The sixth position was the director of corporate law and governance, which includes the monitoring officer role. The preferred candidate declined the post so we don't have a preferred candidate for that role."
Coun Jeff Watson asked if Mr O'Farrell could explain the reason why the candidate had declined the role, but he was unable to do so for reasons of confidentiality.
The recommended candidates were unanimously approved by the cross-party committee.
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