Lib Dems call on the County's New Chief Executive to work with the Borough and District Councils

12.01.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 28th Jun 2007

Cllr. Brian Hoare

At the June County Council Meeting Councillor Brian Hoare, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Councillors on Northamptonshire County Council welcomed the appointment of Katherine Kerswell as the new Chief Executive and asked the County Council to call upon the new Chief Executive to drive forward Partnership working with the Borough and District Councils and other Government Agencies.

Cllr. Hoare said: "Any new Chief Executive will bring a new style and a new perspective to the workings and challenges facing this Council.

The Chief executive has been appointed on the basis of what she brings to this council but it is appropriate for this council to set out its perspective on the challenges facing the Authority which I am sure she will be keen to understand. Lets face it the previous Chief Executive's departure reflected the consequences of a Chief Executive not listening to the elected councillors and that cost this council and the citizens of Northamptonshire heavily as he departed having tried to take this authority in a different direction to that the councillors wished to travel.

This council needs to set out its expectation for the Chief Executive to pursue an external Partnership agenda and this motion sets out that need and asks for feedback on the milestones that she has identified and the potential benefits that she believes will enable the County Council reduce its cost base and therefore maintain services to the citizens of Northamptonshire.