WelcomeAn introduction
Thank you for your interest in Hounslow and the position of Assistant Director, Governance. This is a new role for the authority and will be at the heart of critical decision making that helps the Council and our Trading Companies provide better outcomes to our communities.
You will be joining at an important time as we transform how we provide legal advice and services to our Councillors and Chief Officers. We have taken the decision to move from our current model of outsourced legal provision to a hybrid model, and we will look to you to build and develop a lean in-house legal team, supported by expert outsourced provision.
A modernised local authority like Hounslow needs dynamic and modern corporate governance. Our Leader and Chief Executive will look to you to provide this, driving the improvement of our constitutional and decision making processes and ensuring good practice that helps us deliver better outcomes for our residents.
It is likely that our new Assistant Director, Governance will become the Council’s statutory Monitoring Officer, ensuring the highest standards of conduct for our Council, Officers and elected Members.
In addition to these responsibilities you will provide positive, collaborative and effective leadership for the democratic services and elections teams. We are also establishing a corporate centre of administrative excellence and will look to you to take on the development of this important function.
This role is fundamental to the governance of any local authority but we want so much more than that. The role will suit an ambitious leader, wanting to play a part in an organisation with a challenging but innovative agenda. We are a values driven organisation and I would urge you to spend some time getting to know these values as you think about your fit with our requirements.
We think it desirable that the post holder has appropriate legal qualifications. However qualified legal support will be provided to differently qualified candidates able to demonstrate the appropriate grip of outstanding local authority corporate governance.
I hope this introduction has inspired your interest in our Council and Borough. If you are a 21st Century public servant who can bring leadership, drive, and a passion for great outcomes, I would be delighted to hear from you.
Kind regards
Clive Palfreyman
Executive Director, Finance & Resources
London Borough of Hounslow
