URL: https://democracy.dacorum.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=2640

Decision Maker: Chief Executive

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Purpose: The current Assistant Director of Property is a well-established and critical member of the Housing Senior Leadership Team (HSLT). Whilst the focus of the role has evolved to reflect current organisational priorities, the requirement for senior programme leadership, oversight and delivery assurance across a portfolio of high-risk and strategically significant activity remains. Continuity in this role is essential to maintain strategic oversight during a period of significant organisational change and delivery risk. The postholder is central to ensuring an effective handover to the incoming Assistant Director of Property, supporting recruitment to the vacant Head of Asset Management role to complete the service redesign, and sustaining momentum across a number of high-priority corporate and service programmes – the Assistant Director of Property, will take on responsibility for the Housing Landlord functionality only. Line management responsibility for the Corporate Property (Estates function will remain with this postholder) this is in line with previous approvals by SLT to split the management function, however it should be noted that additional budget for this Assistant Director Corporate Property was not determined at this time. With mobilisation of the Council’s largest contract already underway and a live date of 1 July 2026, the postholder is vital to maintaining strong strategic partnership management, driving performance and ambition through the new arrangements, and supporting delivery of the Council’s priority for stronger partnership working. This capacity also enables the transitioning Assistant Director to focus on operational leadership, embed the new Head of Service resource effectively, and do so without introducing avoidable service risk. The role will continue to provide senior leadership for the Corporate Asset (estates) function, with a focus on maximising commercial income, addressing long-standing debtor issues, progressing key discussions with Place in relation to strategic assets, advancing periodic lease renewals in preparation for Local Government Reorganisation (LGR), and managing asset transfer requests. The postholder will continue to provide leadership for the SAR2 Programme, including member engagement and the progression of outcomes arising from marketing and feasibility work for key sites. The postholder will act as Project Executive for the CEE Assets Programme, ensuring strategic direction, oversight and timely decision-making. The role will continue to provide corporate leadership as the LGR Asset Lead and sub-stream chair, ensuring the Council is well positioned in relation to future asset arrangements and governance. The postholder will retain programme management responsibility for the Elms Cladding Remediation project, a complex and high-profile programme requiring continuity of leadership and delivery assurance. A neighbouring authority, SADC, has requested support from DBC to progress investigations and discussions following receipt of an early cessation notice from its repairs and maintenance contractor. The postholder will support SADC in exploring contractual options, providing strategic advice, and helping to shape a new repairs and maintenance specification aligned to DBC’s customer-centred approach. This is particularly important in the context of imminent LGR decisions and the likelihood of DBC and SADC operating within a future shared model. With LGR creating additional demands on the Strategic Director’s capacity to contribute proactively to major corporate workstreams. This extension will provide resilience at senior level, ensuring protection of regulatory requirements, drawing on the postholder’s extensive organisational knowledge and experience to support existing Assistant Directors and provide deputy cover for the Strategic Director where required. Taken together, these responsibilities represent a significant programme of work that will shape the quality, resilience and future direction of housing and property services, with lasting implications for residents, tenants and the Council’s wider strategic objectives. The proposed extension has been reviewed and endorsed by the Strategic Leadership Team (SLT), reflecting a collective view on the need to maintain stability, ensure delivery assurance and manage organisational risk during this period. Commissioning process: At the point of the original appointment, there was no suitable framework available through which to procure a senior specialist resource of this nature. The proposed extension is therefore required to maintain continuity of leadership and specialist capacity across a range of critical projects within Housing and Property Services, while also supporting the Council’s preparation for transition to the future organisation under LGR. In this context, extending the existing arrangement represents the most effective and least disruptive option for sustaining delivery and managing risk.

Content:

Date of Decision: June 17, 2026