Local politicians who make the transition into the senior management realm are a rare breed. But Aidan Rave, former Doncaster MBC deputy mayor turned South Kesteven DC chief executive, believes his foundation as an elected member will make him a more effective officer.

Having just passed the 100-day mark at the helm of the Lincolnshire district, Aidan is quickly learning that as a chief executive you have to be ‘a political animal without being political’. He says: ‘You need to know how to work with politics to be successful. A political grounding helps you to understand what sits behind the decisions politicians make, how they think and interact’.