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Steve Park has announced his departure from Warrington BC.Since joining Warrington 15 years ago, he has served as an executive director, managing director of the council's Warrington & Co regeneration agency and in July last year became interim chief executive.Following the appointment of Sarah Smith as chief executive, Park said he was looking to move into a part-time role as a private sector consultant.He added: ‘I have made many friends over the years in Warrington and through fantastic teamwork, the prosperity of the town has never been higher, despite encountering several global economic shocks along the way.' Bradford City Council has announced the appointment of David Watson as assistant director for culture, policy and events.The role has been created to build on Bradford's term as UK City of Culture in 2025.The council described Watson as ‘a senior cultural leader with experience across some of the UK's most prominent arts and cultural organisations'.He said: ‘I'm excited to be joining Bradford at such a pivotal moment – a place full of ambition, energy and opportunity. Chris Woodcock has joined Hartlepool BC on a permanent basis as its new director of public health.He had been on secondment with the council as interim director since November. Woodcock was previously deputy director of public health at North Tyneside Council.Executive director of adult services and public health, Jill Harrison, said: ‘We are incredibly excited to appoint and welcome Chris as director of public health here in Hartlepool.‘He brings a wealth of knowledge, experience and passion to the role. When making the appointment it was noted that Chris has already made a positive impact in the short time he has been in Hartlepool and has developed an understanding of local needs and communities.' The Government has announced the appointment of two figures to lead the National Housing Bank.It will be chaired by Peter Vernon, with Simon Century serving as chief executive.Vernon was chair of the agency's investment committee while Century was previously chief investment officer at Homes England.Century said: ‘From day one, we'll use deep expertise to back innovative, large-scale delivery – accelerating the supply of high-quality affordable homes and thriving places people want to live.' Four interim advisers have been appointed to support the work of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government's New Towns Unit.They include two former development corporation chief executives – Lyn Garner, who led the London Legacy Development Corporation and Ian Piper, formerly of the Ebbsfleet Development Corporation.Also appointed is Emma Cariaga, chief operating officer of British Land and David Rudlin, founding principal of Rudlin & Co and principal author of the Government's national model design code.

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PEOPLE

Former interim chief to leave Warrington

By Martin Ford | 07 April 2026

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