Croydon Council is set to hire two new directors on six-figure salaries, with the Appointments & Disciplinary Committee agreeing to proceed with the selection process for both roles. The appointments are deemed business-critical and are intended to bring stability and cost-effectiveness, moving away from interim arrangements.
The committee met on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, to approve salary packages for a Director of Culture and Community Safety and a Director of Streets and Environment. These roles are considered essential for delivering the Mayor's Business Plan and the Council's priorities.
The Director of Culture and Community Safety role, which includes responsibility for violence reduction, community safety, libraries, and leisure services, will command a salary between £118,680 and £123,390 per annum. This position also oversees the Coroner's service and the council's resilience and emergency planning arrangements. The Director of Culture and Community Safety will work collaboratively with other directors in the 'sustainable communities, regeneration and economic recovery directorate.'
The Director of Streets and Environment will be responsible for a directorate encompassing environment services, sustainable neighbourhoods, highways, traffic, parking, environmental health, trading standards, licensing, and independent travel for SEND and fleet management. The salary for this role is set between £129,900 and £135,064 per annum. This directorate also falls under the 'Sustainable Communities' directorate. The appointment of this director, alongside the recent appointment of the Director of Planning and Regeneration, should lead to a full complement of permanent directors within the directorate.
The justification for the salary packages is based on the Hay job evaluation scheme and national pay awards. The council opted for permanent recruitment rather than continued interim arrangements to ensure stability and cost-effectiveness. The report for the Director of Streets and Environment specifically notes that the role is currently covered with 'costly interim spend' and that permanent appointment is not considered 'cost-effective or sustainable in the longer term' compared to interim arrangements.
The recruitment process for both positions is being managed in partnership with executive search and selection agents Gatenby Sanderson. Beyond the general responsibilities, the selection process will include technical assessment interviews. For the Director of Streets and Environment role, candidates will be further assessed on qualifications and experience, including expertise in leading high-performing operations, exemplary leadership and management skills, knowledge of organizational culture and equality, strategic business and financial planning, and experience in political environments. The assessment methods for both roles include application review and interviews.
The committee, chaired by Mayor Jason Perry, agreed to the proposed salary packages and to move forward with the selection process. The meetings were attended by several councillors, including Councillor Lynn Hale (Vice-Chair), Councillor Jason Cummings, Councillor Stuart King, Councillor Enid Molyneux, and Councillor Carlton Young. Further details on the committee's proceedings can be found in the Public reports pack.
