Medway Council appoints Rebecca Bayoji as second Independent Person

Medway Council’s Full Council on Thursday 23 April 2026 approved the appointment of Mrs Rebecca Bayoji as a second Independent Person under section 28(7) of the Localism Act 2011. The appointment takes effect from 24 April 2026 and runs for up to four years, or until Medway Council ceases to exist under local government reorganisation — whichever comes first.

What an Independent Person does

Statutory watchdog, essentially.

The Localism Act 2011 sets out the role quite clearly. Every council must appoint at least one Independent Person whose views must be taken into account before the authority decides on an allegation that a councillor has breached the Member Code of Conduct. Councillors themselves can also seek an Independent Person’s view if they’re the subject of an allegation.

But there’s a second duty running alongside that one. Under the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) Regulations 2015, any panel hearing the possible dismissal of a senior officer — the Chief Executive, the section 151 Officer (chief finance officer) or the Monitoring Officer — must include at least two Independent Persons. With only one appointee in post, Medway couldn’t have convened such a panel without recruiting externally at short notice.

How the appointment was made

The vacancy for the second Independent Person was advertised during 2025 and drew twelve applications. Five candidates were shortlisted in consultation with the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson of the Councillor Conduct Committee and the four Group Whips.

Interviews took place on Monday 2 March 2026 before a panel comprising the Monitoring Officer and one councillor from each political group: Councillor McDonald (Labour and Co-operative Group and Chair of the Councillor Conduct Committee), Councillor Brake (Conservative Group), Councillor Crozer (Independent Group) and Councillor Vye (Reform UK Group).

Of the five shortlisted candidates, three were interviewed — one withdrew on the day and one failed to attend. The panel recommended Mrs Bayoji for appointment, and Full Council agreed the recommendation.

Terms and fees

Mrs Bayoji joins existing Independent Person John Greenhill, who was appointed on 17 October 2024 for a four-year term. Full Council also agreed that the fee for an Independent Person be set at £350 per full day or £175 per half day, and delegated authority to the Monitoring Officer to negotiate fees on a case-by-case basis. Payments come from existing budgets.

The four-year term is the statutory maximum. The report notes that the appointment will end if Medway Council is dissolved under the government’s Local Government Reform plans — currently expected to take effect before the end of the four-year period.

Why a second Independent Person matters

The council’s Monitoring Officer, Bhupinder Gill — who’s also the Assistant Director for Legal and Governance — set out in the report that having only one Independent Person creates risks. Sickness or a conflict of interest could leave the council unable to consult anyone before ruling on a code-of-conduct complaint, which would itself breach the Localism Act.

Two appointees give the council flexibility and cover. Sensible, really.

The report was authored by Teri Reynolds, Principal Democratic Services Officer.

Source post on X — @medway_council, Full Council Item 13