19.09.13
Birmingham council chief executive to step down
Stephen Hughes, chief executive of the country's biggest local authority, Birmingham City Council, is to step down in February next year.
Hughes, who has contributed to PSE a number of times, is to take early retirement after he turns 60. Hughes' departure has prompted a wider shake-up of senior management, including a merger of children's and adults' services under one director and other changes, which could see the chief executive role itself split between a number of senior leaders.
Hughes, pictured, has previously blamed central government for undermining its own growth and localism agendas, urged the government to relocate more departments out of London, and called for "radical" leadership change at local government level.
The council has not yet made an official announcement of the departure.