Lancashire County Council is poised to welcome a new chief executive. Mark Wynn, 55, who assumed the top role on an interim basis last August, has now been proposed as the permanent boss at County Hall.
Councillors will be asked to ratify his appointment later this month after he was chosen by the authority's employment committee to succeed Angie Ridgwell, who helmed the authority for six-and-a-half years.
The influential, non-political position – at one of the country's largest councils – carries a yearly salary of £236,960. This figure exceeds the Prime Minister's pay by more than £60,000 and equates to £122.82 per hour.
According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Mr Wynn will not shoulder the same financial responsibilities as his predecessor did for much of her term despite being suitably qualified, due to prior alterations to the chief executive's duties. When Ms Ridgwell took the reins in January 2018, the chief executive role was merged with the 'section 151 officer' post – the individual ultimately accountable for the proper management of a council's finances.
This move was part of a politically contentious restructuring of Lancashire County Council – unprecedented at a similar-sized authority – which the governing Conservative group claimed was necessary to secure its financial stability, reports .
Ms. Ridgwell, who previously held dual responsibilities until Spring 2023, saw the roles quietly separated again with the section 151 officer duty transitioning to Mr. Wynn upon his arrival as executive director of resources at the authority. While he currently retains the section 151 status, sources informed the LDRS that a new appointment is expected for this role should Mr. Wynn be formally confirmed as chief executive during the council meeting slated for February 26.
MrWynn said he felt "incredibly privileged and excited" at the recommendation for the chief executive position, stating: "I am very much looking forward to permanently leading the team at Lancashire County Council as we work to better the lives of all our residents.
He remarked on his initial experiences, adding, "Since coming to Lancashire I have been very impressed by the commitment of both the council's members and our talented employees as we work to make a difference and I know that together we can achieve so much.
"I have always been passionate about local government and improving outcomes for both residents and businesses – and it is important to me that we deliver high quality services while also looking to innovate and improve what we do.
"It is no secret that this is a demanding time for local government as a whole with many challenges ahead, but I am pleased to say that the council is in an extremely good position to deliver its ambitious vision for the future detailed in our newly launched council plan."
The new chief executive will have a challenging task ahead, dealing with the government's recent request for two-tier areas like Lancashire to begin plans to replace their current council structures as part of efforts to reduce the number of local authorities. Despite the responsibility resting on the shoulders of elected officials, senior officers are set to play an integral role in what promises to be a detailed and potentially contentious procedure.
County council leader Phillippa Williamson said "I welcome the recommendation to appoint Mark to this very important role.
"Mark...has made a big impact since joining the council, helping to drive change and transform the way we deliver services to the people of Lancashire."
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