Staffordshire Police, Fire and Crime Panel - Report on the Proposed Appointment of Sarah Wilkes to the Post of Director of Finance (Section 151 Officer)

Report of the Staffordshire Police, Fire and Crime Panel (The Panel) to the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Staffordshire (PFCC)

With regard to: Staffordshire Police, Fire and Crime Panel - Confirmatory Hearing re Proposed Appointment of Sarah Wilkes to the post of Director of Finance (Section 151 Officer) in the Office of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Staffordshire

As required under Schedule 1 of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011, I write to inform you of the Staffordshire Police, Fire and Crime Panel’s recommendation with regard to your proposal to appoint Sarah Wilkes as your Director of Finance (Section 151 Officer).

The Panel held a Confirmatory Hearing on Monday 22 September 2025 and questioned you on the selection process and criteria followed by you in recruiting to the Director of Finance (Section 151 Officer) and on Sarah Wilkes ability to meet that criteria. We also heard a brief presentation by Ms Wilkes on her experience.

The Panel’s role is to recommend that an appointment be made or that an appointment not be made. In this instance they decided to recommend that an appointment be made.

On behalf of the Panel I would like to wish Sarah every success in the role.

Councillor Richard Cox
Chair of the Staffordshire Police, Fire and Crime Panel