The CLG has called on a chief executive with 35 years experience to advise it on how to run local authorities across England and Wales. Trust.Kirklees MBC chief executive, Rob Vincent will sit on the advisory board of the CLG, along with four other non-executive members. He takes over from former Sheffield City Council chief execuive Sir Bob Kerslake, who stepped down after he was hired to head up the Homes and Communities Agency in March. Mr Vincent has held the top job at Kirklees MBC in Huddersfield for three-and-a-half years. He told The MJ: ‘It is an extraordinary and exciting time for local councils'. ‘I am really keen to work on the relationship between central government and local councils.' He said he was also keen to work on LAAs, MAAs and the sub-national review and he is particularly interested in ‘community cohesion and preventing extremism'. CLG permanent secretary Peter Housden revealed the overhaul of the board with the appointment of five non-executive members, including Mr Vincent. The changes were triggered by the decision by Sir Bob Kerslake and Jane Todd – who is currently on secondment from CLG to Nottingham City Council, where she is acting chief executive – to step down from the board. Mr Housden said: ‘We are not resting here and will shortly appoint a sixth member from the Third Sector. Our non-executives will bring a range of external perspectives and will help the Department reach out further to communities and stakeholders.' The other new non-executive members are: l Polly Cochrane, director of Channel 4 l Debbie Hewitt, managing director of RAC l Sarah Weir, a director of London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games l Peter Doyle, Chair of Church Urban Fund and a governor of the Peabody Trust
