02.07.12
Bi-borough chief executive voted best in country
The joint chief executive of Hammersmith & Fulham and Kensington & Chelsea councils has been named the country’s ‘most impressive council chief executive’.
Derek Myers was voted top by other council chief executives and leaders in an Ipsos MORI poll.
Myers has been chief executive of both boroughs since October 2011 and has held the role at the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea since 2000.
He has worked to join up the back offices of various departments between the boroughs, as well as with Westminster City Council in a tri-borough agreement to share services worth £300m.
The agreement is on track to save £40m a year by 2015/16 and there has been a 45% reduction in senior and middle management posts across children’s services, adult social care and libraries.
Myers said: “It is very humbling to receive this accolade from my peers. However, I did not get to this point alone. This award needs to be shared between both teams of hard-working officers in both boroughs who deserve praise for their pioneering approach in what is a challenging time for the public sector.”
Cllr Nicholas Botterill, H&F council leader, said: “Derek fully deserves this accolade. You do not become one of the best councils inBritainwithout having a strong chief executive and a strong team around you. Delivering the best possible services at the lowest possible cost is what drives this council and Derek, and council officers throughout the organisation are working tremendously hard to put our residents first at every opportunity.”
Communities and local government secretary Eric Pickles praised the tri-borough agreement, saying: “Its councillors and officers are my London 2012 heroes for making such creative savings to protect frontline services, all while keeping council tax bills down helping families and pensioners with their cost of living.”
Myers is also the chairman of the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives (SOLACE).
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(Image courtest Kensington & Chelsea Social Council)