Assistant Director Legal & Democracy and Monitoring Officer

Assistant Director Legal & Democracy and Monitoring Officer

Organisation: Basildon Borough Council

Salary: Up to £113,365 + a monthly car allowance of £200 per month + fringe allowance of £753 per annum

Closing Date: Friday 2nd October, 12pm midday

Put good governance at the heart of Basildon’s future.

We know that experienced Monitoring Officers will understand Basildon’s recent history. We will not attempt to disguise it.

The Council has experienced instability in its statutory governance leadership and is now responding to a Best Value Notice and external assurance review. That means candidates will rightly ask what has changed, what support the Monitoring Officer will receive, and whether there is a genuine organisational and political commitment to improvement.

Those are fair questions, and we intend to answer them openly.

This appointment is central to creating greater stability, confidence and consistency. You will act as Basildon’s statutory Monitoring Officer, lead Legal and Democratic Services and provide trusted advice to Members, the Chief Executive and senior officers. You will sit permanently within the Council’s senior leadership arrangements and work closely with the Chief Executive and Section 151 Officer to improve governance across the organisation.

Your influence will reach well beyond legal compliance.

We need a Monitoring Officer who can make good governance understandable, practical and relevant to everyone. Someone who can support robust political debate while maintaining clear professional boundaries. Someone able to deal confidently with conduct, constitutional and decision‑making issues, but who can also build relationships and improve the culture in which those decisions are made.

You will not be expected to achieve this alone.

You will join alongside a new Chief Executive and work with an established Executive Director of Resources and Governance and a newly appointed Deputy Section 151 Officer. Together, you will have the opportunity to create a more coherent statutory leadership partnership and embed the disciplines needed for the Council’s next phase.

The Council's improvement journey will continue to present important legal, constitutional and democratic challenges. You will help ensure that Basildon's interests, communities and democratic voice are effectively supported through robust governance, sound decision‑making and trusted professional advice.

This is likely to appeal to a proven Monitoring Officer or Deputy Monitoring Officer with the judgement and resilience to step into a visible role. It requires someone who understands that authority does not come from simply saying “no”, but from helping an organisation find a lawful, ethical and deliverable way forward.

If you want a role where your advice will matter, your leadership will be noticed and better governance will have a direct effect on the future of a place, Basildon offers that opportunity.

Real challenges. Real backing. The opportunity to create lasting change.

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