SOUTH SOMERSET NEWS: New captain of the ship at district council

A NEW chief executive has been formally confirmed by South Somerset District Council.

A meeting of the authority’s full council on Thursday (August 18, 2016) saw councillors endorse the appointment of Alex Parmley into the key position.

Council leader, Cllr Ric Pallister, said: “I am delighted to welcome Alex to South Somerset. I know he is fully committed to the future of the district and I and all the members are looking forward to working with him.

“We received 34 applications from people with a range of skills and experience which meant the our Appointments Panel was able to select from a strong field of candidates.

“Alex has current experience of both modernising Local Government and rising to the financial challenge that Government has imposed on all councils.

“He has all the attributes we need to head up a council committed to cutting costs without cutting any of the services that the public both need and value and I cannot wait for him to join the team.”

Cllr Pallister added: “South Somerset is the largest district in Somerset and one of the largest Councils in the country.

“We have a skilled and dedicated workforce which is up for the challenge ahead and with Alex as the new captain of the ship I am confident of our ability to successfully meet those challenges.”

The council has started a programme of “transformation and income generation” in order to meet financial challenges facing the council within the next three years and it was considered that change of this scale required a dedicated chief executive officer with both the skills and commitment to deliver the required outcomes.

PHOTO – RIGHT: The new chief executive of South Somerset District Council – Alex Parmley.

Mr Parmley is currently a corporate director at Eastleigh Borough Council where he leads a major business transformation programme, as well as the building of the new Fleming Park regional leisure centre, regeneration and regional schemes to support business growth and jobs through innovation and the green economy.

Prior to working at Eastleigh, Mr Parmley was a director and general manager at Weymouth and Portland Borough Council and also worked at Parramatta City Council, Australia, leading the implementation of their “city strategy.”

Mr Parmley will start his role in South Somerset on Monday, October 3, 2016, and has said he feels honoured to be given the job.

“I am very pleased and excited to be offered this opportunity and look forward to my first official day in the new role at South Somerset District Council,” he said.

“I am keen to seek to engage the whole organisation in helping shape and steer the changes that lie ahead so that we arrive at the best solution for the organisation and most importantly, the people of south Somerset.”

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