Cheshire East Council has confirmed the appointment of Rob Polkinghorne as its new permanent chief executive.
The decision was taken at the meeting of full council on Wednesday 13 December. Mr Polkinghorne will start work as chief executive on 3 January 2024.
Mr Polkinghorne began his career in local government in 1996 and has worked in unitary, county, borough and district councils, covering both urban and rural areas.
He assumed leadership roles in the fire and rescue service and the NHS before securing the post of chief operating officer at Aberdeen City Council and then becoming chief executive at Southend City Council.
Mr Polkinghorne said: “I am excited to be joining Cheshire East Council.
“This is a time of enormous challenge for councils across the country, and Cheshire East is no exception.
“But it is also a time of opportunity – opportunity to do things differently and refocus.
“I look forward to working with councillors, staff and partners to meet those challenges and take those opportunities, to build on what we already have and ensure we can continue to deliver for Cheshire East’s residents, businesses and communities.”
Cllr Sam Corcoran, leader of the council, said: “I would like to welcome Rob Polkinghorne to Cheshire East.
“Appointment of a new chief executive is an important moment for any organisation, bringing refreshing new perspectives, ideas and ways of doing things.
“I also appreciate the importance of stability – particularly through times of change. However, no organisation should stand still, and we will be looking to Rob to bring new ideas and drive the changes we will need, now and in the future.
“Cheshire East, like many councils across the country, is experiencing an unprecedented financial challenge.
“To guide us through this, we already have many strengths – several of the senior officers at Cheshire East Council are now the longest serving officers in their posts and I am the longest serving leader of the council since its formation in 2009.
“Building on these foundations, I very much look forward to working with Rob.”
Cllr Craig Browne, deputy leader of the council, said: “I too would like to welcome Rob to the council.
“This is an incredibly important post for the organisation and for the borough. Rob won through as the preferred candidate following a rigorous recruitment process and I’d like to thank the appointments committee, the recruitment panels and officers who were involved.
“I would also like to thank David Parr OBE who has served as interim chief executive since October, and who will continue until January, enabling an effective handover with Rob.
“Rob comes to us with a wealth of experience, and I am sure both members and officers across the organisation will offer a warm welcome and support for Rob as he gets started.”
Well said Ian Hughes. New post, new accountability. Guess Council Tax Payers will be hit with a massive hike in the new 2023/24 council tax to pay for these incompetencies. Already being hit with new Green waste bin charge of £56.00 per household and that amount is ‘means tested’ also – on certain benefits and you pay less.
I hope the new Chief Executive gets a grip of budgets and expenditure. It is obvious to individuals who have worked in the private sector that Cheshire East Council like the majority of Unitary Authorities fail to deliver value for money to the tax payers.
The saga of 3,000 mobile phones is a good example. Yes there are individuals who should be provided with work phones if they meet a specific criteria. Lone workers, key managers with critical roles etc.
To admit 500 phones are surplus to requirement indicates a potential cost to the tax payer of £250,000 at £500 per unit .
You then have to ask who was responsible, what business case supported this project.
What controls have been put in place.
Has any been held responsible and faced a capability hearing and dismissed for incompetence . If no why not?
This then raises what else is being hidden from the tax payers.
Public sector is suppose to service Society and not itself self perpetuating the waste of tax payers money.
They should be like Trustees ensuring every pound spent is delivering value and benefit to the communities they serve.
Budgetary control is critical in the private sector.
Best practice, cost control is pivotal.
Increasing staffing had to be justified with a strong business case proving the return on the capital cost and revenue costs of employing an additional member to the team.
Individual’s can look busy, but what to they deliver to the bottom line. Are they really needed? Are they effective?
So I ask the new Chief Executive to take control, reduce waste in all its forms. Consider freezing recruitment across the network including Town Councils. Ensure individuals who are not competent, or effective face capability hearings and potential dismissal. This is normal practice in the private sector.
Nantwich Town Council has decided to waste £22,000 per annum to open the library on a Wednesday Afternoon.
Where is the business case for this. Publish your detailed business case including evidence of the usage of the library on a daily basis and exact details of the foot fall and numbers of individuals using the daily, weekly and monthly.
How will this cost be met?
What is the cost to each household in the area of Nantwich Town Council.
Yes we need a library, I doubt that it needs to be open all day Monday to Friday and Saturday Morning.
Deliver value to the Council Tax Payer of Cheshire East.