Council make changes to leadership team as part of £330,000 efficiency savings

DUE to ongoing financial pressures Warrington Borough Council has implemented changes to its leadership team as part of £330,000 efficiency savings.

Former Director of Growth Steve Park has become Executive Director of Place, while former Director of Adult Social Care Caroline Williams has become Executive Director of People

In a report to full council members were told Warrington Borough Council had benefitted in recent years from a stable senior leadership team that had been effective in delivering the corporate objectives of the Council.
With a need for continued efficiency and focus on continuing to deliver high-quality services, but also to deliver significant changes to support sustainable budget plans, the council needs to ensure a strong senior team is in place, taking account of the financial pressures on the council.
The 2025/26 budget approved by Full Council in February included £330k savings from a reduction in the size of the Senior Leadership Team and associated PA support, with both the post of Director of Education and Inclusion and the post of Head of Chief Executive’s Office being deleted. In addition, the deletion of the post of Director of Environment and Transport, effective from 1 June 2025 would provide a further saving to the council’s budget.
To enable the delivery of these savings, a revised Senior Management structure has been put in place, based around three directorates – People, Place and Corporate. The Corporate Services Directorate is already established led by the Director of Corporate Services but two new appointments are required to lead the newly formed People and Place directorates. Further restructuring will take place following these appointments.
The post of Executive Director – Place post is newly established. The council has undertaken a recruitment exercise to fill this post.
The Council’s Chief Officer Employment Committee convened for interview and unanimously resolved that a conditional offer be made to Steve Park, currently Director of Growth, for the permanent position of Executive Director.
The post of Executive Director – People post is also newly established. It will hold the statutory responsibilities as ‘Director of Adult Social Services (DASS)’. The council
has undertaken a recruitment exercise to fill this post.
The Council’s Chief Officer Employment Committee convened for interview and unanimously resolved that a conditional offer be made to current Director of Adult Services Caroline Williams, for the permanent position of Executive Director.
Both new positions commenced on June 1st.
Current council Chief Executive Prof Steven Broomhead has announced his retirement at the end of June.
Meanwhile, the council is currently seeking a new Executive Director of Transformation and Improvement. This role will be responsible for leading the council’s improvement agenda, working closely with the leadership team to drive change and restore trust.