Andrew Humble set to become Middlesbrough’s Director of Finance and Transformation

Andrew Humble has been recommended for the position of Director of Finance and Transformation at Middlesbrough Council.

In an email circulated by Middlesbrough Council, seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, interim Chief Executive Clive Heaphy said: “On Friday the Chief Officer Appointments Committee recommended that Andrew Humble be appointed”.

The current interim Director of Finance, Debbie Middleton has been in post since April 2023, she had her contract extended alongside Mr Heaphy in January of this year, with contracts now set to expire in March 2025.

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Mr Heaphy explained that Mr Humble’s appointment is now subject to two processes. Firstly, Executive members have three days to raise any objections. “If none are received full council will be asked to formally approve his designation as statutory Section 151 Officer”. Section 151 Officer is the legal term that sets out a Director of Finance’s authority.

Mr Humble has worked at Middlesbrough Council for 27 years across two separate periods, and has served as Deputy Section 151 Officer since 2018. “In this role he has been fundamental to the budget setting process. In his new role Andrew will also take on wider responsibilities for overseeing the Council’s transformation programme”, Mr Heaphy explained.

Mr Heaphy said that he and Ms Middleton would “work closely with Andrew to ensure a smooth transition once the appointment is fully confirmed”. The interim Chief Executive took the opportunity to congratulate Andrew Humble and Erik Scollay on their “pending appointments”.

Mr Scollay is set to be confirmed as the new Chief Executive at next week’s meeting of full council, following confirmation that “no objections” had been raised by Executive members in the permitted three day window.

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