News / Politics
Bristol City Council to reinstate chief executive role
Bristol City Council is set to appoint a new chief executive two and a half years after scrapping the role entirely.
The U-turn follows a Local Government Association Corporate Peer Challenge that states reinstating the top position would “bring greater clarity and accountability” and “create the right conditions to drive delivery and improvement”.
The post of chief executive was removed in 2017, following the resignation of Anna Klonowski, who received a controversial payout. The reshuffle saw a reduction in posts that the council says has saved more than £1m a year.
is needed now More than ever
Mike Jackson, the current executive director for resources and head of paid service, and former chief exec of North Somerset Council, has been recommended for the top position by a cross-party selection committee.
Mike Jackson (second from right) with left to right, Christine Bamford, deputy mayor Asher Craig and mayor Marvin Rees – photo: Women’s Coin Foundation
Jackson’s £165,000 salary would remain unchanged and his existing role removed, meaning the new chief exec job would not cost any more in public money.
As elected mayor, Marvin Rees earns £79,468 – the same salary as an MP.
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Read more: Bristol City Council scraps £160k chief executive role
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Rees said that the city council’s “journey” over the past 18 months “has been one of re-imagining the role of the local authority whilst ramping up delivery of our ambitions for the city”.
He said: “The emergence of the Covid-19 crisis and the necessary period of recovery that follows sees our journey rise to unprecedented challenges and requires the council to evolve to meet them.
“Building on the endorsement of the Local Government Association’s Peer Challenge, we are introducing this role to further drive delivery and provide a focal point of officer leadership at the top of the organisation.
“Each of our executive directors is recognised locally and nationally as leaders in their fields and their sector leadership will be essential factors in our collective recovery from Covid-19.
“This continuity is important to ensuring our successes to date can be built upon as we enter the next phase of our journey together.”
The recommendation for Jackson to take on the role will be put to a meeting of Full Council on May 21.
Main photo my Martin Booth
Read more: Council to make changes following ‘damning’ report into chief executive payout
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