The announcement was necessary to allow for the recruitment for a replacement to get underway. Given the strength and skills held by a number of very senior officers within the council – this has been an internal recruitment process by a cross-party Chief Officer Appointments Committee (COAC).
The committee has now identified a preferred candidate and will ask County Council to consider its recommendation on October 28.
The COAC’s recommendation for this role is Terry Collins.
Terry Collins is the Corporate Director of Neighbourhood Services at Durham County Council. He joined the council in 2009 when it became a new unitary council.
Terry was educated at the Sacred Heart School in Redcar before moving on to study Sport and Recreational Management at Longlands College, Middlesbrough. He later completed a Master’s degree in Business Administration at the University of Teesside.
Prior to moving to Durham County Council, he was Director of Neighbourhood Services and Assistant Chief Executive at City of York Council.
Neighbourhood Services covers a wide range of services including streetscene, highways, refuse and recycling, culture and leisure, environmental health and consumer protection, customer services and direct services.
The Leader of Durham County Council is Cllr Simon Henig: “This process has been understandably rigorous and transparent.
“Reflecting the continued financial pressures facing the public sector as a whole, as part of this recruitment we have also reduced the salary for this post by £15,000.
“The cross-party committee’s recommendation will now go before full council later this month where a decision on the appointment will be made.”
The committee membership can be seen here: http://democracy.durham.gov.uk/mgCommitteeDetails.aspx?ID=568