Treasurer, Bonchurch Community Association

Department for Health and Social Care

21 August 2026

Unpaid appointment with the Bonchurch Community Association: Application under the Business Appointment Rules from Julian Hunt, former Interim Director General Technology, Digital and Data at the Department for Health and Social Care. 

The Civil Service Commission (the Commission) has considered an application for advice under the Business Appointment Rules (the Rules) from Mr Julian Hunt, formerly Interim Director General Technology, Digital and Data at the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC). The application is for an unpaid, part-time role as Treasurer at the Bonchurch Community Association. Further detail on the content of the application is in the Annex. The Commission’s advice is required as Mr Hunt is a former civil servant at SCS Pay Band 3. His last day of service was 31 May 2026.

The purpose of the Rules is to protect the integrity of the government. They aim to avoid any reasonable concerns that: a civil servant may be influenced in their official duties by the risk of reward; a civil servant may improperly exploit access to information; and an organisation may gain an improper influence through the employment of a civil servant.

The Commission’s advice is that the appointment with the Bonchurch Community Association should be made subject to the following conditions: 

1. Privileged information – Mr Hunt should not draw on (disclose or use for the benefit of himself or the persons or organisations to which this advice refers) any privileged information available to him from his time in the Civil Service.
2. Lobbying – For one year from his last day in the Civil Service, until 31 May 2027, Mr Hunt should not become personally involved in lobbying the UK Government or its arm’s length bodies on behalf of the Bonchurch Community Association. He should also not use, directly or indirectly, his contacts in the government and/or Civil Service to influence policy, secure business/funding or otherwise unfairly advantage the Bonchurch Community Association.
3. Bids and contracts – For one year from his last day in the Civil Service, until 31 May 2027, Mr Hunt should not provide advice to the Bonchurch Community Association on a bid or contract relating to DHSC and its arm’s length bodies.

The Rules set out that civil servants must abide by the Commission’s advice. It is Mr Hunt’s personal responsibility to manage the propriety of any appointment and to understand any other rules and regulations he may be subject to in parallel with the Commission’s advice. 

Mr Hunt must seek advice if he proposes to extend or otherwise change his role with the organisation. Once this appointment has been publicly announced or taken up, the letter will be published on the Civil Service Commission’s website.

Yours sincerely, 

Kate Owen

Chief Executive

Annex A: The application

1. According to its website, the Bonchurch Community Association is a voluntary organisation made up of local residents on the Isle of Wight that aims to maintain, conserve, and enhance the village of Bonchurch while hosting social events to foster community engagement. 

Applicant assessment

2. As Treasurer, Mr Hunt will be responsible for the Association’s financial administration. This will include maintaining the management accounts, overseeing receipts and payments to the bank account, preparing management accounts and reporting to the committee and members. Mr Hunt will also help raise funds to support projects in the village.

3. Mr Hunt confirmed his role will not involve contact with, or lobbying of, government. 

4. As Interim Director General Technology, Digital and Data, Mr Hunt was responsible for leading the development of a strategic vision for technology, digital, and data services across the health and care sector, ensuring new technological and digital innovations are fully exploited by the NHS for the benefit of patients and service users. He oversaw system data, technology and digital transformation, products, platforms and live services, and he was responsible for key data and digital infrastructure. He was a member of the joint leadership group and participated in the Joint Executive Team, NHS England Executive, and DHSC Leadership Group. Mr Hunt was also accountable for various NHS England teams, including Digital, Data and Analytics, and Privacy, Transparency, and Trust, as well as DHSC teams, such as the Chief Data Officer and Digital Policy Units. 

5. Mr Hunt stated he has not been responsible for regulatory, funding or any other decisions affecting the Bonchurch Community Association at any time in his last two years in the Civil Service.

The Commission’s analysis

6. Application level. As a Level 1 application for an unpaid role, the Commission’s analysis applies the principle that this category of appointment is generally recognised as posing a lower risk to government integrity. 

7. Risk of reward. The role of Treasurer is unpaid. Mr Hunt stated he had no involvement in policy development or contractual or commercial decisions affecting the Bonchurch Community Association while at DHSC. Therefore, the risk that the offer was made as a reward for decisions made during his time in office is low. 
8. Access to information. Consistent with Mr Hunt’s previous applications considered by his former department, the Commission notes the unique, interim nature of Mr Hunt’s role and determined that a standard cross-government ban on bids and contracts would be disproportionately restrictive. The Commission therefore determined that the restriction on providing advice to the Bonchurch Community Association on bids and contracts will be confined to DHSC and its arm’s length bodies. 

9. Improper influence. Mr Hunt has stated there will be no contact with government in his proposed role. The risk around the perception of lobbying the government is mitigated by the standard conditions.

1. Duration of conditions. Consistent with Mr Hunt’s previous applications considered by his former department, the Commission determined that a one-year restriction is appropriate and proportionate to the risks. This conclusion reflects the two distinct factors specific to Mr Hunt’s tenure: the limited length and the narrow, interim nature of his time within the civil service.