Appoint a local authority head of paid service or chief officer: local authority

Key points

  • Local authorities are required to designate one of their officers as the head of paid service (this is usually the chief executive), one as the monitoring officer and one as the "section 151 officer" with responsibility for administration of the authority's financial affairs.
  • If the appointment of head of paid service, monitoring officer, section 151 officer or other chief officer is to be advertised externally, there are statutory requirements that must be met regarding advertising the post and interviewing candidates.
  • Legislation also regulates the role of councillors in appointing the head of paid service, chief officers and other senior staff.

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