New Council Chief Executive named

Jim Taylor

Jim Taylor has been named as the new Chief Executive of Rochdale Borough Council, Rochdale Online can reveal.

Mr Taylor is currently Tameside Council’s Director of Children’s Services.

He will succeed Roger Ellis who retires from the Council on 1 April.

Mr Taylor has worked at Tameside Council since 2004.

Prior to working at Tameside Council Mr Taylor was a maths teacher and worked in five schools holding various management responsibilities.

Colin Lambert, Leader of Rochdale Borough Council, said: “Following a two day recruitment and selection process this week, members of our Appointments Committee have decided that Jim Taylor, an Executive Director at Tameside Borough Council, should be appointed Chief Executive. The appointment is subject to ratification at the meeting of Full Council on 19 March.”

It is anticipated that subject to the decision being ratified, Mr Taylor will take up his post as soon as possible. Arrangements will be made to cover the Chief Executive post on an interim basis prior to Mr Taylor taking up post.

It is understood that Mr Taylor will earn around £25,000 less than Mr Ellis; his salary will be between £125,000 and £130,000.

One of Mr Taylor’s first tasks will be to report what savings can be made.

In December, councillors requested that the new Chief Executive should, “once appointed, submit a report at the earliest possible date regarding the potential for savings which might be achieved from senior management costs and the implications of these for the organisation.”

Mr Taylor was one of five applicants short-listed - four were interviewed, including one internal candidate, current RMBC Executive Director, Pam Smith.

The Leader of the Conservative group, Councillor Ashley Dearnley said he is “looking forward” to working with Mr Taylor.

The Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, Councillor Wera Hobhouse, was unavailable for comment at the time of publication.