From Cllr John Griffiths, Leader of St Edmundsbury Borough Council and Cllr James Waters, Leader of Forest Heath District Council
A letter to all potential candidates for the post of joint Chief Executive
We are offering an exciting opportunity to help shape our future, and make things even better, here in the western part of Suffolk. We don't want to tiptoe or drift into the future – we want to take a quantum leap.
Although the job description says 'joint Chief Executive for two councils' we are looking to achieve much more than simply bringing Forest Heath and St Edmundsbury councils together.
We want West Suffolk to speak with a single voice in the forums where we can influence economic growth, national policy-making, and help provide the technology and infrastructure which will ensure our area's future prosperity and quality of life. By providing significant, and complementary, expertise as well as enthusiasm, our two councils can achieve so much more than either of us could working alone. But our joint Chief Executive will need to go further by maintaining and developing existing, and new, effective partnerships across all sectors.
Further change is inevitable in local government, and innovation is not just a buzzword, but a necessity. Our residents deserve, and demand, the very best we can give – a real challenge for our new Chief Executive at a time when resources are decreasing.
You will need to show us you are excited by the opportunities and challenges ahead, passionate about working with others, and keen to explore – and deliver – the new ways of working needed now, and in the future, to achieve what's best for everyone in our part of Suffolk.
If you believe you can offer this – and more – we very much look forward to meeting you.
