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Two new executive directors have joined Bath and North East Somerset Council.Darryl Freeman has been appointed executive director of people and Meg Carter as executive director of sustainable communities.Freeman joined the council on an interim basis in September and has previously held roles at Wiltshire, Herefordshire and Medway Councils and Devon CC.Carter has 15 years of experience across local government and the private sector, including roles at Portsmouth City Council and Kent and West Sussex CCs.A council spokesperson said: ‘We're building an excellent senior team to take forward our priorities.' Betty Butlin has been named as executive director for community health, wellbeing and prevention by Southampton City Council.Butlin was previously the director of adult social care at Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council.Chief executive Jillian Kay said: ‘I am delighted to welcome Betty to Southampton. She brings a wealth of experience, alongside a clear commitment to improving people's lives.Butlin added: ‘I'm passionate about ensuring people are supported to live independently, with dignity and choice, and I look forward to working with colleagues, partners and local communities to make a real difference for Southampton's residents.' Bill Butler has been announced as the preferred candidate as chair of the Local Audit Office.Butler is currently chair of Public Sector Audit Appointments and also holds non-executive roles with The Law Society and Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care Board.Previously, he was chief executive of the Security Industry Authority and has worked for the Gambling Commission, Healthcare Commission and Audit Commission.The appointment for a five-year term is subject to a Parliamentary hearing.Local government minister Alison McGovern said: ‘Bill Butler brings a wealth of leadership experience from across the public and regulatory sectors and is exceptionally well placed to chair the Local Audit Office at this pivotal moment.' Alan Mawson has been appointed as Dumfries and Galloway Council's permanent head of facilities, waste and neighbourhood services.Mawson held the role on an interim basis and was previously senior manager of facilities services at the authority.Chief executive Dawn Roberts said: ‘Alan brings deep operational experience and a strong understanding of services that people depend on. He has led complex services, supported large teams across a wide geographic area and demonstrated a clear focus on quality, safety and continuous improvement.' Two members have been added to the Association of Directors of Public Health (ADPH) Council.Sally Cartwright and David Munday are directors of public health at Cambridgeshire CC and Buckinghamshire Council respectively.Cartwright will represent the East of England on the body alongside Vicky Head, while Munday will represent the South East of England, alongside Alison Challenger.A spokesperson said: ‘Our council members work to ensure good two-way communications between their network and ADPH, as well helping to lead our policy advisory groups, which inform ADPH policy.' Ben Alexander is to chair the Planning Inspectorate Board for the next four years.He will take over in July from Trudi Elliott, who is completing her second term as chair.Alexander is currently chair of the Industrial Development Advisory Board and commercial adviser at the Cabinet Office.Planning minister Matthew Pennycook said: ‘Ben has a proven track record of effective leadership, commercial expertise and successfully driving through organisation change in the public sector. He will make an invaluable contribution to ensuring the inspectorate provides timely, high-quality and cost-effective decisions, recommendations and advice.'The minister has also confirmed an extension to Adrian Penfold's term as a board member to September 2027.Penfold is head of planning at British Land and previously held roles at Hammersmith and Fulham LBC, Dartford BC, and at the London Docklands Development Corporation. Former chief executive of Knowsley BC, Mike Harden has joined the board of Plus Dane Housing as a non-executive director. He will also serve as audit and assurance committee chair.Harden became chief executive of Knowsley 2014 before retiring last year.Plus Dane chair Max Steinberg said: ‘Mike's extensive leadership experience and proven commitment to and success in growing strong and vibrant communities speaks for itself.'

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PEOPLE

Bath and North East Somerset adds to leadership team

By Martin Ford | 27 May 2026

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