Woking Borough Council has confirmed that new appointments have been made to its team of commissioners.
This news comes as the Minister for Local Government has published the second report since commissioners began their intervention in May this year, with the report outlining how staff and councillors are working to meet challenges, as well as making progress in all of the 12 areas of focus that were outlined in the first report. Despite this, the council is still in a position of vulnerability thanks to the announcement that Chief Executive Julie Fisher will be stepping down in Spring 2024.
In response to this, Richard Carr has been appointed Managing Director Commissioner from April 2024. This will see him taking on the roles of Chief Executive and the Head of Paid Service until a more permanent appointment has been made.
The current Lead Commissioner, Jim Taylor, has also announced that he will be stepping down in the New Year, with Sir Tony Redmond being appointed into the role. Both new appointees bring swathes of local government experience and will work to ease some of the vulnerabilities that the council faces, whilst continuing to make progress on the key focuses of the commission’s original report.
Cllr Ann-Marie Baker, Leader, Woking Borough Council
Leader of Woking Borough Council Cllr Ann-Marie Baker said:
“I’m pleased that the Commissioners have recognised the council’s hard work and the progress we have made in their second report while setting out clearly the very significant challenges the council continues to face.
“The intervention model in Woking is working well and we are fortunate that we will have the experience of Sir Tony Redmond and Richard Carr to help us. I’m delighted that Julie Fisher has kindly agreed to stay on as Chief Executive until April to ensure that the council has the senior leadership it needs over that period and to enable an effective handover to Richard. I’d like to thank Jim Taylor for his work as a reviewer in the spring and as Lead Commissioner since May.”
Image credit: iStock and Woking Borough Council
