Decision
Analysis
outcome: The Council approved the appointment of Barbara Beardwell as the new Monitoring Officer.
summary: The decision at stake is the appointment of a new Monitoring Officer for the Council.
topline: The Council has decided to appoint Barbara Beardwell as the new Monitoring Officer.
reason_contentious: This issue is not particularly contentious as it is a routine administrative appointment to fulfill legal obligations.
affected_stakeholders: ["Council members", "Barbara Beardwell", "Parish or Town Councils"]
contentiousness_score: 2
political_party_relevance: There are no mentions or implications of political parties or political influence on the decision.
URL: https://rds.eppingforestdc.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=4306
Decision Maker: Council
Outcome: Recommendations Approved
Is Key Decision?: No
Is Callable In?: No
Purpose:
Content: The Leader of the Council, Cllr C Whitbread, presented a report to approve the appointment of a new Monitoring Officer for the Council. The Leader reminded the Council that it had appointed an interim Monitoring Officer at the meeting held on 17 December 2025, following the departure of the Council’s Service Manager for Legal Services, as the Council was legally obliged to have a Monitoring Officer in situ. A recruitment exercise had been undertaken for the post of Monitoring Officer, and Barbara Beardwell had started her employ with the Council on 12 May 2025. B Beardwell would work for the Council for three days a week, and it was proposed to appoint B Beardwell as the Council’s new Monitoring Officer with immediate effect. It was highlighted that this was an increase of 0.5 days per week from the previous Monitoring Officer, but it was felt that the extra availability was necessary to deal with the current workload. Resolved: (1) That Barbara Beardwell be designated as Monitoring Officer of the Council with immediate effect in accordance with Section 5 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 and Sections 26-37 of the Localism Act 2011 for the purpose of performing the duties imposed by those sections; (2) That the newly appointed Monitoring Officer also be responsible for any Parish or Town Councils which were affiliated for the time being to the Epping Forest Standards Committee under Chapter 7 of the Localism Act; and (3) That the existing delegations to the Monitoring Officer, as set out in Part 3 of the Constitution, be noted.
Date of Decision: May 22, 2025