Joint chief appointed in cost cutting plan (From Bucks Free Press)

Joint chief appointed in cost cutting plan

10:44am Wednesday 22nd February 2012 in Beaconsfield By Rebecca Cain

Alan Goodrum

A COUNCIL boss has been appointed the new joint chief executive for two district councils in a money saving merger.

From today, Alan Goodrum, who has been chief executive for Chiltern District Council (CDC) for 16 years, will be the joint chief for both CDC and South Bucks District Council (SBDC).

The former SBDC chief executive, Chris Furness, retired in May last year and the position has been vacant since then.

The new appointment is part of a cost cutting plan to share senior management teams. Wycombe District Council was going to be involved in the proceedings but pulled out to focus on other major projects.

Bob Smith has also been appointed joint director of services and Jim Burness as joint director of resources. Both Bob and Jim have been working for SBDC for the last 12 and nine years respectively.

The three senior appointments hopes to save the two councils more than £200,000 per year.

In March last year the Bucks Free Press said Mr Goodrum was paid £95,000-£99,999 and Mr Furness was paid £92,189; the new joint chief executive role will be paid £125,000.

The three director posts (previously one at Chiltern, two at South Bucks) were each paid £88,000 each; the two new joint director posts will now receive £91,000 each.

Leader of SBDC, Adrian Busby, said: "We believe Alan has all the attributes to take both authorities forward. He is particularly strong in his approach to partnership working; an area which we believe will help us greatly in involving our communities more in delivering future services."

The councils followed advice from an independent human resources advisor and the Local Government Employers’ Association and the salaries were independently, externally assessed and benchmarked against current salaries for similar sized local authorities.

Further shared senior management posts are planned and it is anticipated when it is all in place it will reduce council running costs by at least £500,000 per year from 2015.

Alan Goodrum will manage the services of both councils, serving a combined population of over 157,000 people.

However, each authority will remain independent and keep their separate identities, retain their own councillors and budgets - council taxpayers' money from one council will not be spent by the other.

Leader of CDC, Nick Rose said: "I am delighted that Alan has been appointed as the councils' shared chief executive. He has vast experience in local government and his considerable talent, drive and ability have been obvious to all who have worked with him so far."