Latest civil service & public affairs moves – July 24

UK Government

• Department for Culture, Media and Sport: BBC Board – Michael Smyth appointed as Northern Ireland member for four years from 20 July until 19 July 2027.
• Ministry of Defence: UK Hydrographic Office – Rear Admiral Angus Essenhigh appointed as national hydrographer and director of defence and data acquisition; Vanessa Blake appointed as chief customer officer.
• Department for Energy Security and Net Zero: Nuclear Decommissioning Authority – Chris Train appointed as interim chair from 1 September.
• Department of Health and Social Care: British Pharmacopoeia Commission – Robert Lowe re-appointed as member for four years from 1 January 2024; Professor Monique Simmonds re-appointed as members for two years from 1 January 2024. Independent Reconfiguration Panel – Professor Simon Brake, Rajesh Khanna, Luke March, Rohan Sivanandan and Suzy Walton’s terms as members extended for one year until 31 May 2024; Tansi Harper and Graham Jagger re-appointed as members for three years from 1 October until 30 September 2026. NHS Resolution – Janice Barber re-appointed as non-executive director for three years from 18 January 2024 until 17 January 2027. Charlotte Moar’s term as non-executive director and chair of the Audit and Risk Committee extended from 1 September until 30 November.

• Ministry of Justice: Criminal Legal Aid Advisory Board – Deborah Taylor appointed as chair for 18 months. Insolvency Rules Committee – Robert Paterson appointed as Solicitor member for three years; Alexander Wood appointed as Solicitor member for three years from 1 October.

• Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities: London Borough of Croydon Improvement and Assurance Panel – Brian Roberts appointed as Finance Panel member; Pamela Leonce appointed as Housing Panel member.

• Department for Science, Innovation and Technology: Michelle Donelan re-appointed Secretaryof State for science, innovation and technology following her return maternity leave; Chloe Smith has now left government. Emran Mian appointed as director-general for digital, technology and telecoms.

  Non-Ministerial Departments

• Food Standards Agency – Mark Rolfe appointed as interim deputy chair until 31 December 2023.

• Ofsted – Sir Martyn Oliver selected as preferred candidate for His Majesty’s chief inspector of education, children’s services and skills.

• Ofwat – Chris Walters appointed as board member.

Houses of Parliament

House of Commons

• Selby and Ainsty by-election result – Keir Mather gained the seat for Labour with a majority of 4,161 on 20 July. The turnout was 44.77 per cent.
• Somerton and Frome by-election result – Sarah Dyke gained the seat for the Liberal Democrats with a majority of 11,008 on 20 July. The turnout was 44.23 per cent.
• Uxbridge and South Ruislip by-election result – Steve Tuckwell held the seat for the Conservatives with a majority of 495 on 20 July. The turnout was 46.23 per cent.
• Transport Committee – Sara Britcliffe added; Chris Loder discharged.
• Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority – Dame Laura Cox appointed as member from 1 August until 31 July 2028.

House of Lords

• Lord Davies of Stamford (Lab, life peer), Lord Hoyle (Lab, life peer) and Lord Watson of
• Richmond (Lib Dem, life peer) to retire from the House of Lords on 25 July.
• Lord Selkirk of Douglas (Con, life peer) and Lord Hylton (hereditary peer) to retire from the House of Lords on 27 July. A by-election to replace Lord Hylton will be announced in due course.
• Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland Sub-Committee – Baroness Goudie added.

Local Authorities

• Cheshire East Council – Dr Lorraine O’Donnell to step down as chief executive in October, following her appointment as chief executive at Bradford Metropolitan District Council.
• Hackney Council – Mark Carroll to step down as chief executive at the end of August; Dawn Carter-McDonald appointed as interim chief executive, subject to council approval.
• Huntingdonshire District Council – Michelle Sacks appointed as chief executive.
• Kirklees Council – Steve Mawson appointed as chief executive from October, subject to council approval.
• Powys County Council – Dr Caroline Turner to step down as chief executive at the end of July after battling with ill health; Jack Straw to continue as interim chief executive until the role is filled permanently.
• Swindon Council – Sam Mowbray appointed as interim chief executive.

Combined Authorities

North of Tyne Combined Authority – Mayor Jamie Driscoll has left the Labour Party and is now an independent.

Industry

Interest Groups

• Cruse Bereavement Support – Lucy Harmer appointed as chief executive.
• Help Musicians – Sarah Woods appointed as chief executive, she been interim chief executive since May.
• Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales – André Clarke appointed as director of charity development.

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Note: People Moves newsletter will be on a break over the summer recess, but will be back from September