New shared Chief Executive announced for South Hams and West Devon councils
South Hams District and West Devon Borough Councils have named the successful candidate chosen to succeed their shared chief executive David Incoll who will be retiring later this year.
The selection of Richard Sheard, the current deputy regional director for Government Office South West, was ratified by both councils at meetings this week.
The two authorities are the first in the country to specifically seek a candidate to fill the joint chief executive vacancy. Nationally, more than a dozen councils have joint chief executives but the post has usually been merged between authorities when one of the two has left.
Mr Sheard was selected by a panel of senior councillors from both authorities, including South Hams leader Cllr John Tucker and West Devon leader Cllr James McInnes. More than 40 people applied for the post.
Mr Sheard has a long and successful career in both local government and the civil service. Before joining Government Office South West he was chief executive at Salisbury District Council for nine years.
His service in local government began in 1971 with Nottingham City Council, where he trained as a public health officer. He moved on to Mendip Council in Somerset in 1987 as environmental health manager and during his time there was appointed as director of housing and health.
In 1997 he joined Salisbury as chief executive where he led the organisation’s transformation into a council with a national reputation for its work in community engagement, partnership working, service improvement and best value. During his time at Salisbury, the levels of council tax charges were amongst the lowest in the country, yet the authority was in the top 5% nationally for residents’ satisfaction with its services.
Cllr Tucker said: “We believe Richard has all the attributes to take both authorities forward, particularly with our current initiatives to share more services between us.
“At the same time, of course, he will be preparing the authorities for the financial challenges that we face over the next four years.”
Cllr McInnes added: “Richard is particularly strong in his approach to partnership working; an area which we believe will help us greatly in involving our communities more in delivering future services.
“We are certain that Richard will build on David’s excellent stewardship. No-one should underestimate the importance of David’s work in bringing the two authorities together in these last few years and we are very grateful to him.”
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29th July 2010
For further information please contact:
Alison Stoneham, Communications Manager for South Hams District and West Devon Borough Councils on 01803 861368 or 01822 813648, email astoneham@westdevon.gov.uk
or
Elaine Hopkins, Senior Communications Officer, South Hams District Council on 01803 861369, email elaine.hopkins@southhams.gov.uk
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