Agenda and minutes

None were made.

The item was introduced and the recommendations moved by the Chair of

Council who had also served as Chair of the Appointments Panel. He stated

the Panel had been faced with a very difficult decision choosing a successful

candidate from a very high quality field.

The recommendations were seconded by the Mayor who thanked those who

had advised the Panel and the partners, including the Young Mayor, who had

taken part in the process. The Mayor extended special thanks to Janet Senior,

the Acting Chief Executive, for her work carried out with aplomb over many

years culminating in service in her present interim role. The Council joined the

Mayor’s remarks by giving Janet Senior a standing ovation.

Councillor Alan Hall recorded his thanks to the Chair for the role he had taken

on the Appointments Panel.

Once the recommendations had been formally agreed, Ian Thomas the Chief

Executive designate addressed the Council for the first time. He thanked the

Council for endorsing his appointment and then recounted his life history and

relevant experience before setting out a number of issues which he expected

the Council to tackle. He ended by promising to be an active Chief Executive

who would work with elected members and be visible in the community.

Prior to the end of the meeting the Council noted this would be the last

business meeting of the Council attended by Sir Steve Bullock and a

presentation was made to him accompanied by detailed speeches of thanks

from the Chair and former Leader of the Council, Councillor Jim Mallory.

RESOLVED that

(1) the Appointments Panel’s  completion ofa rigorous selection process to

recruit a new Chief Executive be noted;

(2) the recommendation of the Appointments Panel, that Ian Thomas is

appointed as Lewisham Council’s new Chief Executive, with an

anticipated start date of 14 May 2018, be accepted;

(3) the salary agreed was within the range approved by Council; and

(4) the Interim Acting Chief Executive arrangements, agreed by Council on 24

November 2017, cease on the arrival of the new Chief Executive.

The meeting closed at 7.35pm