City Council ready to name interim chief exec

Derby City Council has announced proposals for its top team including a new acting chief executive, following the recent departure of Paul Robinson from the role in December.

Christine Durrant is currently the Council’s strategic director of communities and place and the authority’s deputy chief executive. Subject to final approval, she will take up the post, replacong Robinson, who is due to take up his new role as Chief Executive of Worcestershire County Council in March.

Starting with Derby City Council in 1997, Durrant was initially confirmed as acting strategic director for neighbourhoods in January 2015 before taking on her permanent role a year later. She has lead major infrastructure projects, including the New Swimming Pool Complex and the Our City Our River flood defence project.

The appointment is subject to approval at a meeting of the full council which takes place later this month.

The meeting will also be asked to approve the appointment of Don McLure as the interim strategic director of corporate resources, a position which also encompasses the statutory role of chief finance officer. McLure has a wealth of experience, with more than five years heading up Durham County Council’s financial, legal and democratic, human resources and ICT teams through one of the most difficult periods in local government history. Prior to this he spent an eight-year career with Derby City Council. If approved, McLure would take up the post from 1st February 2018.

Recruitment of a permanent chief executive and strategic director of corporate resources is already underway, with the successful candidates likely to take the reins in the summer.

The interim appointments will go before councillors for their approval at a meeting of the City Council on Wednesday 24th January.