Mr Christopher Bradshaw has been formally appointed as Chief Executive of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council. The recommendation of the Appointments Committee was ratified by Full Council last night. This decision makes permanent the senior management arrangements agreed by the Council in 2015 which have delivered savings of over £2M per year.  His appointment received unanimous cross party support.

County Borough Councillor Andrew Morgan, Leader of the Council said:

“I am delighted that Council has supported the recommendations of the Appointments Committee to appoint Mr Chris Bradshaw as the Council’s Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service on a permanent basis.

“The new senior management changes, which we first introduced when I became Leader in 2014, are saving the Council over £2M each year and are working well, including the changes we have made to the Chief Executive role.

“Chris has already served as Chief Executive since September 2015 in a temporary capacity and has already ably demonstrated his capabilities in the role.

“Chris has worked for Rhondda Cynon Taf Council for over sixteen years and in each role he has undertaken, he has always demonstrated his ability to drive forward improvements in innovative ways.

“His approach, I am sure, will continue to deliver the improvements we as elected members want to see for Council services and our communities.

“This is a hugely important role, with responsibility for almost 10,000 employees, as the joint second largest local authority in Wales. This role, more than ever before, is vitally important for the Council as an organisation as local government continues for the foreseeable future, to face huge financial challenges.

“The changes which began immediately following my appointment as Leader in 2014, have delivered significant savings in senior management costs, that have in turn helped protect frontline services from the significant reductions in funding we have faced during this period.

“The recent Local Government Data Unit report identified this Council as one of the most improved in Wales, demonstrating that the changes we made continue to offer efficient and effective corporate arrangements.”

Mr Chris Bradshaw, Chief Executive of Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council said:

“I am honoured and privileged to have been appointed to this hugely important role within Rhondda Cynon Taf.

“I am committed to supporting all members of the Council to deliver the improvements they want to see for their communities and ensure the effective and efficient delivery of the range of important services we provide, which are relied upon on a daily basis by residents.”

In 2015, Mr Chris Bradshaw, the Council’s then Director of Education was appointed on a temporary basis as the Council’s Chief Executive for a twelve month period following the retirement of Mr Steve Merritt. Council agreed to extend this arrangement for a further twelve months earlier this year.

In October, Council agreed to advertise to make a permanent appointment in response to the clear direction for local government in Wales, which was set out by new Local Government Cabinet Secretary Mark Drakeford AM.

View Vacancy — Chief Executive