Newham Council's Chief Officer Appointments Sub-Committee has recommended the appointment of Paul Martin as Interim Chief Executive, subject to consultation with Cabinet Members. The urgency to fill the Head of Paid Service position stems from the need to ensure that the Council has a Head of Paid Service
. The decision was made during a meeting held on 17 July 2025, at the Old Town Hall Stratford.
The sub-committee, chaired by Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz OBE, included Councillors Caroline Adaja, John Gray, Lester Hudson, Mehmood Mirza, and Sarah Ruiz. Councillor Danny Keeling substituted for Councillor Nate Higgins, who was absent.
According to the printed minutes, the meeting commenced at 8:35 a.m. and concluded at 10:26 a.m. The agenda included an item regarding the exclusion of press and public due to the confidential nature of the information to be discussed.
Councillor Hudson declared an interest, noting he had previously interviewed the candidate in 2008 for the Chief Executive position at Newham Council.
The sub-committee interviewed one candidate, Paul Martin, and subsequently agreed that he met the criteria for the role. The recommendation is contingent upon no objections being raised by Cabinet Members. The consultation with Cabinet Members involves consulting with every Member of the Cabinet on the provisional offer made
over a maximum of two working days, requiring a response (either no objections or with any objections) on the same day due to the urgency of the situation. The tight deadline for their response reflects the urgency of filling the Head of Paid Service position.
The public reports pack included guidance on declarations of interest, reminding councillors of their obligations under the Localism Act 2011.
