City council Chief Executive announces his retirement
Sheffield City Council Chief Executive, John Mothersole, is due to retire at the end of 2019.
He joined Sheffield City Council in 1998 to take up the role of Executive Director for Development, Environment and Leisure and then in 2008 became Chief Executive.
Mothersole said: “I have been in this role for over 11 years and it has been the best job of my life. However, nothing goes on forever and when you get to a certain stage in your career, and a certain age, the question of when to stop does become a matter of ‘when’ not ‘if’.
“I have therefore decided that now is as good a time as any, and so I plan to retire at the end of this calendar year. I know that the success of this council is the product of the efforts of everyone who works for it and with it and of the councillors who are elected to it.
“I will look back on my time working with the council with great fondness and affection.
“Over the next three months I will be working with my council colleagues to hand over my responsibilities and to ensure there is a smooth transition to whoever replaces me.”
Mothersole started out as a labourer at a foundry in Blackburn in 1977, before going to university. On returning to Blackburn in 1982, with a degree and unemployment at an all-time high, he said he was “rescued” by the Manpower Services Commission and offered funding to run a community centre on a council estate.
He has been in continuous employment since then, including working in community arts and arts development roles in Camden and Newcastle.
He said he was proud of the achievements that the council has made, with highlights including the city centre’s ‘Heart of the City’ transformation, the raised profile of Sheffield nationally, and Children’s Services being rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted.
Mothersole noted these have all been achieved within the constraints of austerity, adding he was also proud of the fact that the council has continued to work towards its ambitions.
Councillor Julie Dore, Leader of Sheffield City Council, said: “John has been an outstanding Chief Executive, leading his council colleagues through times of great success for the city and through this difficult time of austerity faced by councils up and down the country.
“I will miss working with him and the support, dedication and commitment he has given to the council. We all wish John a long, happy and healthy retirement!”
Councillor Penny Baker, Interim Leader of the Liberal Democrats Group, said: “Sheffield has been extremely lucky to have had John as our Chief Executive. It has been a pleasure to work with him and he will be difficult to replace. I wish him a happy and long retirement.”
