Rachel McKoy, the immediate past president of the Lawyers in Local Government, is set to become the chief legal advisor and Monitoring Officer at the London Borough of Newham. Rachel, a senior leader in local government, is currently Director of Legal and Governance at Hounslow Council.
Following the ratification of her appointment by Newham elected members at a meeting of Full Council on Monday night (22nd July 2024), she is expected to take up her new permanent role as the statutory Monitoring Officer and as the Director of Legal and Governance for the London Boroughs of Newham and Havering under their oneSource shared service collaboration, in early September.
Her appointment follows an extensive recruitment search and process involving shortlisted candidates meeting stakeholder panels before final interviews by the oneSource Joint Committee in May chaired by Mayor of Newham, Rokhsana Fiaz OBE and comprising elected members from both Newham and Havering Councils.
Rachel McKoy said: “I am delighted to be joining Newham’s Corporate Leadership Board as its Monitoring Officer, and working jointly across both Newham and Havering as their Director of Law and Governance. Ensuring good governance and decision making, on behalf of our communities, is something I am very passionate about. It has been key to every role I have held, and will remain pivotal to the discharge of my responsibilities when I arrive.
“My experience both in local government and with external organisations has provided me with a unique insight into the current challenges and opportunities facing the sector. I aim to use this insight, to work collaboratively with colleagues to make a positive difference, whilst anchoring the role of the Monitoring officer and legal function.”
Throughout her career, Rachel has worked both in local and central government on complex strategic schemes and national infrastructure projects, providing her with significant legal and governance experience across multiple commercial legal disciplines.
Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz OBE said: “With the increasing complex landscape facing local government, I am delighted that we have Rachel, a formidable legal heavyweight, joining Newham’s top officer team. As the council continues to drive my administration’s ambitious Building a Fairer Newham plans for local people and our communities, I’m looking forward to Rachel playing a major role. Building on the good governance agenda I started back in 2018, I know that Rachel will be a stickler for the robust and ethical standards that I expect here at the council on behalf of Newham residents, as we serve the public good and in the public interest at all times. All elected Members and officers at the council will undoubtedly benefit from her wise counsel.”
Newham’s Chief Executive Abi Gbago said: “Exceptional leaders, who bring a wealth of knowledge and experience, are essential for Newham to develop and grow as an organisation. I am delighted that Rachel, a legal professional with such a strong and credible reputation, and significant experience has chosen to join us here in Newham. I look forward to working with Rachel and the rest of the corporate leadership to continue to champion and deliver the work of the administration and build a fairer Newham.”
Rachel has held, or continues to hold a number of important external roles during her career in local government including being the current Non-Executive Director, Solicitor to the Board, Diversity & Inclusion Reference Group Member for the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives (SOLACE), and an Academic Board |Member for the Law Society’s Diploma in Local Government Law and Practice, and National Expert for Planning, Highways and Environment Law for Lawyers in Local Government. She has previously been Chief Projects Assessor for the Law Society’s Diploma in Local Government, Law and Practice.
Rachel has also contributed significantly to a number of publications and assurance-related projects in collaboration with several sector partners including the Local Government Association (LGA), Grant Thornton, Local Government Information Unit (LGiU), and the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) to bolster the importance of effective governance and amplify the important role of the Monitoring Officer in local authorities.
