Councillors will be asked to appoint a new Monitoring Officer at next week’s Full Council meeting.
A report will go to members proposing Gavin Milnthorpe, who is currently Monitoring Officer and Deputy Director of Legal and Governance for Havering Borough Council, for the role of Director of Legal and Governance and Monitoring Officer.
The Director of Legal and Governance is the council's principal legal advisor, and also the statutory Monitoring Officer, ensuring that officers and councillors act lawfully and maintain high standards of conduct and governance.
The role also oversees the operation of the council's constitution and leads its Legal, Elections, Information Governance, Complaints and Democratic services teams.
If councillors approve the appointment, Gavin will take up his role from 13 April 2026.
The council’s current Acting Director of Legal and Governance and Monitoring Officer, Graham Kitchen, leaves the council on 25 January. Therefore, as part of the same report, members will also be asked to appoint Satinder Sahota, the council’s Interim Head of Legal Services and Deputy Monitoring Officer, as the council’s Monitoring Officer on an interim basis until Gavin starts in post.
Gavin said: “I’m delighted to be joining Peterborough City Council as Director of Legal and Governance. The council faces huge challenges in the next few years and I believe my background and experience will benefit the organisation as it looks to improve life across the city, both for its residents and businesses. I'm excited to get involved in many of those projects I have seen reported on in local media in recent times."
Gavin has 17 years of local government legal experience, where he has held roles ranging from Monitoring Officer and Deputy Monitoring Officer to Head of Commercial and Property.
At Havering Borough Council, he leads the management and strategic direction of the shared service One Source, which provides back-office support services for Havering, Newham and Bexley Councils.
Matthew Gladstone, Chief Executive of Peterborough City Council, said: “The role of Monitoring Officer is one of the most important for any council, supporting officers and councillors to navigate many complex areas of the law.
“I am delighted to recommend to councillors that we appoint Gavin and I look forward to working with him.
“I would also like to pay tribute to Graham Kitchen who has done a fantastic job leading our Legal and Governance services in the past three months.”
Councillors will be asked to confirm the appointment at a meeting of Full Council taking place on Wednesday 21 January 2026.
Members of the council’s Employment Committee also agreed to the appointment at a meeting held on 15 December.
Gavin Milnthorpe, currently Monitoring Officer and Deputy Director of Legal and Governance for Havering Borough Council, who is proposed for the role of Director of Legal and Governance and Monitoring Officer in Peterborough.