The chief executive at Stafford Borough Council and the head of planning and regeneration are both retiring later this year, the authority announced today.
Ian Thompson, 63, has been in the Council’s top job since June 2008. He has served over 40 years in local government having previously been Executive Director at the Borough.
Councillors will be asked to agree a process to find a replacement at a meeting on 2nd February. The meeting will also hear that Ted Manders, the Council’s current Head of Planning and Regeneration, will also be retiring. Mr Manders, 60, will leave at the end of May and a report to the Council recommends appointing a new person to the post.
The report suggests committees should be formed from councillors across the parties as part of the appointments process.
Although a committee can select a new Head of Service, Council approval will be required to appoint a Chief Executive. No decisions on pay for either post have yet been made. The Chief Executive post currently has a salary of just over £100,000 per year – the Head of Planning and Regeneration is £66,000.
Mr Thompson, who is married with two grown-up children, joined the Borough in 2005 from Lichfield District Council where he was Director of Development.
[box type=”shadow” ]He said: “Leaving a job that I love is not going to be easy and it has been a genuine privilege to work with such committed colleagues, elected members and partners. I am proud of what we have achieved in my time at the Council. The investment into our area has been unprecedented and the new person at the helm will inherit a list of exciting projects coming to fruition or beginning to take shape.”[/box]
Stafford Borough Council Leader, Patrick Farrington, said: “Ian has been a great servant to the public sector over many years. He is a dedicated professional and will be a loss to our Borough and to myself and the many colleagues and partners who have appreciated his advice and guidance over a range of issues.
“Despite the many challenges that local authorities up and down the country have faced over recent years, under his stewardship this borough, and council, have prospered and are in very good shape to meet the future challenges. On behalf of the council I wish him a happy retirement and all our best wishes are with him, and his family, for the future.”
Mr Thompson will retire in the summer when a new appointment is made.
Mr Manders joined the Council in October 2006 as Head of Regeneration having been Executive Director of Groundwork Cheshire.
[box type=”shadow” ]Councillor Frances Beatty, Stafford Borough Council Cabinet member for Planning and Regeneration, said: “You need only take one look around the Borough at the huge amount of investment being delivered to our area to see what an important role Ted has played at this Council. He will be a difficult act to follow, but on behalf of the council we wish him well in whatever he does in the future.”[/box]
The meeting of the Council takes place at the County Buildings in Stafford on 2nd February. More information in the agenda.
