Extraordinary Council Meeting - Tuesday 28 July 2026

Topics

• Central Coast Council begins search for permanent CEO after acting leadership arrangement
  Council has endorsed a permanent CEO recruitment process and appointed a six-councillor panel while Jamie Loader performs delegated CEO functions during a temporary appointment.
  The CEO is responsible for the council’s administration and implementation of council decisions, making the leadership transition significant for residents and local organisations.

Decisions

• Permanent CEO recruitment endorsed
  Council endorsed commencing the recruitment process for a permanent Chief Executive Officer and noted the indicative recruitment timeline in the Mayoral Minute.
  The process will determine the council’s future senior executive leadership and may affect organisational priorities and service delivery.
• CEO recruitment panel appointed
  A CEO Recruitment Panel was appointed comprising Cr McKinna, Cr Mouland, Cr Crowley, Cr MacGregor, Cr McNamara and Cr Stanton.
  The panel will oversee or contribute to the selection process for the permanent Chief Executive Officer.
• Temporary acting CEO functions delegated
  For the term of the temporary appointment, Council delegated the functions currently assigned to the Chief Executive Officer to Jamie Loader under section 377 of the Local Government Act 1993. The position title was changed from Acting General Manager to Acting Chief Executive Officer.
  This establishes who can exercise the council’s CEO-level functions while the permanent recruitment process proceeds.
• Remote attendance approved and apology noted
  Council approved Councillor Corinne Lamont’s attendance by audio-visual link and noted Councillor Trent McWaide’s apology.
  This enabled the meeting to proceed with the approved remote participation arrangement.

Discussion

• Chief Executive Officer transition
  The council considered the appointment of an acting CEO and the recruitment process for a permanent CEO in confidential session because the matter concerned personnel and employment conditions.
  Leadership changes can affect council administration, strategic direction and the delivery of local services.

Impacts

• The council will begin recruiting a permanent Chief Executive Officer.
• Jamie Loader will exercise functions delegated to the CEO for the term of the temporary appointment.
• The recruitment process will be overseen by a six-member councillor panel.

Places

• Central Coast Council Chambers, 2 Hely Street, Wyong (council facility)
  Venue for the Extraordinary Council Meeting.
• Central Coast (local government area)
  Council area affected by the leadership and recruitment decisions.

Next

• Commence recruitment for a permanent Chief Executive Officer.
  According to the indicative timeline noted in the Mayoral Minute; exact dates were not included in the extract.
• CEO Recruitment Panel to participate in the permanent CEO selection process.
  During the recruitment process.
• Jamie Loader to exercise the delegated CEO functions.
  For the term of the temporary appointment.

Extract

OFFICIAL Central Coast Council MINUTES of the Extraordinary Council Meeting held in the Central Coast Council Chambers 2 Hely Street, Wyong Tuesday 28 July 2026 Present Mayor Lawrie McKinna Deputy Mayor John Mouland Councillor Margot Castles Councillor Helen Crowley Councillor Kyla Daniels Councillor Doug Eaton OAM Councillor Corinne Lamont (remotely) Councillor Kyle MacGregor Councillor John McNamara Councillor Belinda Neal Councillor Jane Smith Councillor Rachel Stanton Councillor Sharon Walsh Councillor Jared Wright Apologies Councillor Trent McWaide Officers Present David Farmer Chief Executive Officer Darrylen Law Chief People Officer Central Coast Council Extraordinary Council Meeting...