New appointments to borough council

Woking Borough Council has confirmed that new appointments have been made to its team of commissioners.

This news comes as the Minister for Local Government has published the second report since commissioners began their intervention in May this year, with the report outlining how staff and councillors are working to meet challenges, as well as making progress in all of the 12 areas of focus that were outlined in the first report. Despite this, the council is still in a position of vulnerability thanks to the announcement that Chief Executive Julie Fisher will be stepping down in Spring 2024.

In response to this, Richard Carr has been appointed Managing Director Commissioner from April 2024. This will see him taking on the roles of Chief Executive and the Head of Paid Service until a more permanent appointment has been made.

The current Lead Commissioner, Jim Taylor, has also announced that he will be stepping down in the New Year, with Sir Tony Redmond being appointed into the role. Both new appointees bring swathes of local government experience and will work to ease some of the vulnerabilities that the council faces, whilst continuing to make progress on the key focuses of the commission’s original report.

Image of Cllr Ann-Marie Baker in front of Woking council building

Cllr Ann-Marie Baker, Leader, Woking Borough Council

Leader of Woking Borough Council Cllr Ann-Marie Baker said:

“I’m pleased that the Commissioners have recognised the council’s hard work and the progress we have made in their second report while setting out clearly the very significant challenges the council continues to face.

“The intervention model in Woking is working well and we are fortunate that we will have the experience of Sir Tony Redmond and Richard Carr to help us. I’m delighted that Julie Fisher has kindly agreed to stay on as Chief Executive until April to ensure that the council has the senior leadership it needs over that period and to enable an effective handover to Richard. I’d like to thank Jim Taylor for his work as a reviewer in the spring and as Lead Commissioner since May.”

Image credit: iStock and Woking Borough Council

Public Sector Executive Magazine

POWERING THE FUTURE: Liverpool's Bold Tidal Energy Vision

Dive into our latest issue!

Read Now

Presenting

2025 Online Conferences

In partnership with our community of public sector leaders responsible for procurement and strategy across local authorities and the wider public sector, we’ve devised a collaborative calendar of conferences and events for leaders of industry to listen, learn and collaborate through engaging and immersive conversation.

All our conferences are CPD accredited, which means you can gain points to advance your career by attending our online conferences. Also, the contents are available on demand so you can re-watch at your convenience.

Public Sector Executive Podcast

Listen to industry leaders on everything within the public sector

From government policies and public administration to education, healthcare, and infrastructure, we explore the challenges and innovations shaping our communities.

Join us as we speak with industry leaders, policymakers, and frontline professionals, providing you with valuable insights and perspectives to stay informed and engaged with the issues that matter most.

Listen Now