New council leadership team at Cambridge City Council

21 July 2010

Cambridge City Council press release

Cambridge City Council will have a new leadership team from 2 August following a restructure of senior management initiated earlier this year by Chief Executive, Antoinette Jackson.

The new structure sees the number of directors reduced from five to three. Interviews for the three new director roles were held in June. From August 2 the city council's strategic leadership team will be:

• Antoinette Jackson, Chief Executive;
• Liz Bisset, Director of Customer and Community Services;
• David Horspool, Director of Resources;
• Simon Payne, Director of Environment.

Cllr Sian Reid, Leader of the city council, said: "I am delighted that we have such a talented team to lead the council. I am looking forward to working with them to realise our ambitions for the wellbeing of Cambridge's people, to take advantage of the new opportunities, which will be offered by the new government's localist programme and to continue to provide good services for Cambridge within the financial circumstances dictated by the national economic situation."

Liz Bisset, Director of Customer and Community
Liz Bisset joined the city council in 2004 as Director of Community Services, having previously worked as Head of Regeneration in Bristol.

In her new role she will focus on people-based services including housing, the customer service centre, council tax and housing benefits and arts and recreation.

Liz said: "I am delighted to be appointed to this new role. I have a real passion for delivering excellent customer focused services for the people of Cambridge.

"There are some big challenges ahead including managing cuts in public expenditure but there are also some great opportunities to improve the way the council engages with local residents and to improve access to services for example by putting more online."

David Horspool, Director of Resources
David joined the council as Director of Finance in 1995 having previously worked as Deputy Treasurer at Breckland Council. In his new role he will be responsible for providing accountancy, audit, human resources, ICT, legal, procurement and property services as well as the repair and maintenance of council housing stock.

David said: "I am looking forward to taking on this new role and continuing to serve the people of Cambridge. A key challenge for me will be to advise the council on how best to deal with what will undoubtedly be very challenging financial times for all public services.

"I will be looking to build on the council's strong track record on financial management in order to ensure we will continue to provide the best services possible for the people of Cambridge."

Simon Payne, Director of Environment
Simon joined the city council five and a half years ago as Director of Environment and Planning moving from Stratford-on-Avon District Council where he was Head of Planning.

Simon's new department will see him taking responsibility for waste and recycling, off-street car parking, crematorium and bereavement services, CCTV, streets and open spaces, environmental health, taxis, private sector housing, planning policy, development control, building control, tourism and city centre management.

Simon said: "My overriding priority is to use all my skills, energy and commitment to protect the environment of the city to the benefit of the people of the city. In doing this I will make sure I focus on four key objectives. These are to focus on customers, achieve value for money, deliver what I promise and wherever possible achieve excellence."