Witney News - Shared Chief Executive arrangement agreed

Shared Chief Executive arrangement agreed

West Oxfordshire District Council has agreed to share their chief executive with Cotswold District Council for an initial six-month period.

Under the new arrangement, West Oxfordshire’s Chief Executive David Neudegg will divide his time between the two authorities, starting his new joint managerial post on 1st November 2008.

Both councils agreed the proposal at their full council meetings this week. They saw the move as a real opportunity to consider future closer working that could benefit both authorities and bring improvements to services for residents.

West Oxfordshire Leader Cllr Barry Norton said: “This is groundbreaking for us and an exciting step forward. It is a decision that makes good economic sense and enables us to explore the possibilities of working closer together in the future and for sharing best practices.

“I am therefore delighted that councillors at both West Oxfordshire and Cotswold have overwhelmingly supported the recommendations for this to go ahead.

“There are many similarities between the two authorities – our market towns, villages, natural heritage and landscape. Even the political landscape is similar.

“We will review the arrangements after the initial six-month period and we very much hope this will be positive as we believe it offers mutual benefits for both authorities as well as real cost savings to the council taxpayer. “

David Neudegg has a wealth of experience in local government. Before he joined West Oxfordshire District Council in January 2007, he worked as Corporate Director at Salisbury District Council. He says he is looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead and in particular to identifying similarities between the two districts where both councils and the communities they serve can benefit from a closer working arrangement.

David Neudegg said: “I want both West Oxfordshire and Cotswold to be recognised as leading district councils that provide efficient value for money services for their residents. Both councils have good performance records and there is a desire by staff and councillors to keep improving to meet the challenges ahead.”