- Independent roles to help maintain fairness in council decision-making
- Appointments show commitment to strong ethical standards
- Builds public trust and openness with the local community
Tamworth Borough Council is pleased to announce the appointment of Vanessa Maher-Smith and William Stevenson as independent persons under the Localism Act 2011.
The independent person role is a statutory requirement designed to promote openness and fairness in the handling of member conduct complaints. Vanessa Maher-Smith and William Stevenson will serve a two-year term, with the option to extend for a further one year. They will play a central role in making sure complaints about councillor conduct are reviewed impartially and that the council continues to meet the highest standards of governance.
As well as supporting ethical standards, independent persons are also required by law to participate in hearings concerning the potential dismissal of senior officers, including the chief executive, section 151 officer, and monitoring officer. This makes sure that local residents can be confident that decisions are fair, transparent, and accountable.
After a public recruitment and formal interview process, the appointments were recommended to full council on 9 September 2025.
Stephen Gabriel, Chief Executive of Tamworth Borough Council said:
“We are delighted to welcome Vanessa Maher-Smith and William Stevenson as our newly appointed independent persons. Their wealth of experience and commitment to public service will be a great asset to the council and the communities we serve.
“The appointment of them both reflects our firm commitment to integrity, transparency, and accountability. The role of independent person is absolutely central in maintaining public trust in how we conduct ourselves as an organisation and in how we handle concerns raised by members of the public or elected representatives.
“Their experience, independence, and dedication will provide assurance to both councillors and the community that our standards process is fair, open, and impartial. I am confident that Vanessa and William will make a valuable contribution, and I look forward to working with them over the coming years.”