Chief Executive
As the council’s most senior officer, the Chief Executive leads and is accountable for the council’s workforce and all of the resources available for the delivery of services.
The council has 3,024 paid staff (2,584 full time equivalents), operating from around 60 locations. It has a gross budget of £704m (2022/23), providing hundreds of services for local people.
Chief Executives are full time officers, appointed by the whole council, on merit, against objective criteria, following public advertisement.
Like all senior public officials, Chief Executives are not allowed to participate in any party-political activity. They advise and assist all councillors, irrespective of any personal views they hold.
Working with elected members
As head of the paid service, the Chief Executive works closely with councillors to deliver the following:
Leadership
Working with elected members to ensure strong, visible leadership and direction, encouraging and enabling managers to motivate and inspire their teams.
Strategic direction
Ensuring all staff understand and adhere to the strategic aims of the organisation and follow the direction set by the elected members.
Policy advice
Acting as the principal policy adviser to the elected members of the council to lead the development of workable strategies which will deliver the political objectives set by the councillors.
Partnerships
Leading and developing strong partnerships across the local community to achieve improved outcomes and better public services for local people.
Operational management
Overseeing financial and performance management, risk management, people management and change management within the council.
Representation
Chief Executives often undertake external roles which support the strategic objectives of the council.
The Chief Executive's pay and expenses
Remuneration and expenses
The salary of a Chief Executive is set by agreement between the council and the person appointed. It is related to the experience of the Chief Executive, the size and nature of the council and the task to be undertaken.
Working arrangements
The Chief Executive is expected to work such hours as are necessary to ensure the job gets done. This routinely involves evening and weekend work as well as the standard Monday to Friday business week. The Chief Executive is ‘on call’ at all other times, particularly to cover emergency planning requirements. No extra payments are made for such extended hours.
