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Eden DC has decided to look for a new chief executive, even though the local authority may itself be scrapped through reorganisation. Top officer, Ian Bruce, announced last month that he was retiring at the end of April after 19 years in the post. Councillors voted last week to start searching for a new chief executive, but if Cumbria CC's unitary bid is successful, the local authority will not exist in two years' time. Meanwhile, an independent report commissioned by West Wiltshire, Kennet andSalisbury DCs has found ‘fundamental flaws' in Wiltshire CC's unitary bid. The report by Professor Michael Chisholm said there was little evidence of support for a single authority among local people, and Wiltshire's plans for area governance were ‘incoherent'. ‘We have always felt that the county council's bid had been pulled together in haste, without proper consideration of the real issues,' said West Wiltshire chief executive, Andrew Pate. But Wiltshire CC leader, Jane Scott, said a single authority would bring ‘improved services, value for money and the best combination of local and county governance'. Another report by Professor Chisholm, on Somerset CC's unitary bid, has also questioned the amount that could be saved with a single authority. West Lancashire DC has signed an agreement with Lancashire CC and six other borough councils to work on improving the existing two-tier system. Chief executive of Swale BC, Mark Bilsborough, has been on compassionate leave since the beginning of the year. ‘The absence of the chief executive remains a private matter and, as such, I am unable to comment on it or expand on previous statements, even to staff,' said council leader, Andrew Bowles.

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WHITEHALL

District seeks chief despite axe threat

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