Rather like Sir Alex Ferguson stepping down as the Man Utd manager, the District Council’s Chief Executive, Paul Warren, is retiring at the end of the year.
So the council decided to recruit a new Chief Exec, and has made its choice , a very bright guy called Amar Dave, and we look forward to working with him. The council has issued a press release:
Rochford District Council has named its successor to the existing Chief Executive Paul Warren, upon his retirement at the end of the year.
Following a rigorous selection process, Amar Dave, who is currently Acting Corporate Director of Environment, Culture and Transport at Reading Borough Council, was selected from more than 30 applicants for the position.
The Leader of Rochford District Council, Councillor Terry Cutmore said, ?All of us on the Appointments Panel reached a unanimous decision in recommending Amar Dave for appointment. We all agreed he has the passion, enthusiasm and necessary skills to meet the future needs of the Council. With his vision and experience, I?m confident we can meet head-on the challenges that face Local Government?.
Mr Dave has been Acting Corporate Director of Environment, Culture and Transport at Reading Borough Council since 2010 ? heading up a team of 568 staff and with a revenue budget of ?49 million. He has extensive experience of managing the delivery of frontline council services including highways, transport, planning, environmental, housing, arts and heritage.
Prior to joining Reading Borough Council, Mr Dave has enjoyed success in a number of other high profile roles with organisations including Stroud District Council and Amey Facilities Management.
Mr Dave said, ?I?m really looking forward to joining Rochford District Council as Chief Executive and working with staff and councillors to continue to deliver the best possible services for residents, businesses and visitors right across the District.
I know the Rochford District and the County well as my wife grew up in Essex and she still has family living here. It?s a pleasure to return to Essex where we can bring up our family?.
Mr Dave is expected to join the Council in early November, when there will be a handover period before the current Chief Executive, Paul Warren, retires at the end of December 2013.
Amar Dave?s appointment was ratified by Full Council on Thursday 1 August 2013.
However the Greens and the Rochford Residents have put out a press release of their own- although they have no criticism of Mr Dave, they are not happy at how the process was carried out:
?Residents Councillors and Green Councillors were disappointed that the Conservative Administration of Rochford District Council only invited one candidate to make a presentation and take questions from all Members of the Council on 30 July.
Whilst all Members were initially promised that they would have a choice from more than one candidate this was changed to a presentation from a single candidate by the Conservatives.
The Conservative Administration of the Council had made it clear at the Extraordinary Council to receive the retirement announcement of Paul Warren that Green and Residents representatives would not be invited to join the Appointments Sub Committee who would interview candidates. This was despite the Intervention of the Lib Dems to no avail given that all previous senior appointments at the Council were by full cross party interviews.
One Tory Member who asked his Group why the Residents and Greens had been excluded was reportedly told ?it would be like BP (The Conservative Administration) appointing a CEO where SHELL (Residents and Greens) would also be on the Appointments Committee.?
This analogy unreasonably suggests that Residents Councillors and Green Councillors are, according to the Conservatives, not part of a wider representation of the interests of the people of Rochford District.
This has been a political appointment without choice being offered to all Members of the Council.
What’s the LibDem view, as a party to this process???
As the Greens / Rochford Residents press statement hinted at, I asked about them being included.
Looks as if you are avoiding the issue here, Chris! What is the Lindem view?
Sorry Brian, the view on precisely what? I think that all the Lib Dems present voted for Mr Dave.
I find it strange and uncomfortable that some parties were excluded from the process and only one candidate considered from more than 30 applicants. It does not appear to have been an open process. Presumably the LibDems are happy with this?