London boroughs to share a chief

Author: Local Government Chronicle   |  

Islington and Camden LBCs are set to become the first upper-tier councils to share a chief executive.

The two boroughs announced on Wednesday their intention to ?explore the possibility of sharing a chief executive and senior management team?.

If both councils agree to the proposals, Camden’s chief Moira Gibb will take over from Islington’s John Foster after he retires next May.

Further joint appointments would then follow.

The two boroughs face funding gaps of up to œ100m over the medium term and the two boroughs have already entered into a joint contract for the provision of school meals.

Following May’s local elections, both councils are now Labour-run. Camden was previously run by a Liberal Democrat/Conservative coalition and Islington by the Lib Dems.

Camden leader Nasim Ali (Lab) said: ?As the scale of the cuts to public services becomes clearer it is right that we examine all of the options available to protect the frontline services our residents value.?

Islington leader Catherine West said: ?Camden and Islington are well placed to take this bold step ? we have already worked together successfully and I believe that a shared management team will bring a fresh approach.?

A detailed report will be considered by the councils’ executive and cabinet before the end of the year.

While there are dozens of district councils sharing chief executives, so far no upper- or single-tier councils have done so apart from in Essex where county chief executive Joanna Killian is also chief executive for Brentwood DC.

Stephen Greenhalgh (Con), leader of Hammersmith & Fulham LBC recently told LGC he expected his council, Westminster City Council and Kensington & Chelsea RBC to share a chief executive as they began to share more and more services.

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